TSB: MERCEDES BENZ S430, S500, S55, S55 AMG, S600, S63, S65, SL500, SL55, SL550, SL600, SL65 (1992–2009)

Bulletin PB-46-20-16E — February 27, 2009

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDPB-46-20-16E
ManufacturerMERCEDES BENZ
ModelsS430, S500, S55, S55 AMG, S600, S63, S65, SL500, SL55, SL550, SL600, SL65
Model Years1992–2009
Date IssuedFebruary 27, 2009
Date Added to NHTSAMay 11, 2009
ComponentSTEERING
Vehicles Affected146 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

MERCEDES: LEAKS AT STEERING GEAR CONTROL HEAD CONNECTION TO HIGH OR LOW PRESSURE LINES OR LEAKS AT INTERNAL STEERING LINES OF CONTROL HEAD CONNECTION TO STEERING GEAR HOUSING. MODELS 171, 203, 204, 209, 211, 215, 216, 219, 220, 221, AND 2

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2009 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2009 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2009 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2009 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2009 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2009 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2009 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2009 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2009 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2009 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2008 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2008 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S63 2008 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S63 2008 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S65 2008 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S65 2008 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2008 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2008 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2008 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2008 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2008 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2008 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2008 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2008 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S500 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S500 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S63 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S63 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S65 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S65 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2007 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2007 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S500 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S500 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S65 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S65 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2006 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2006 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S500 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S500 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S65 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S65 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2005 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2005 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2004 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2004 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 2004 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 2004 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2004 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2004 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2004 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2004 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2004 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2004 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2004 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2004 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2004 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2004 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2004 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2004 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2003 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2003 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2003 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2003 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2003 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL55 2003 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2003 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2003 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2003 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2003 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2003 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL65 2003 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S500 2002 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S500 2002 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2002 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2002 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2001 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S430 2001 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 AMG 2001 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 AMG 2001 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2001 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ S600 2001 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2001 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2001 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2000 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2000 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1999 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1999 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1998 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1998 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1997 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1997 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 1997 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 1997 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1996 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1996 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1995 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1995 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1994 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1994 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1993 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1993 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1992 010000 STEERING
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 1992 013000 STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Related MERCEDES BENZ Recalls

CampaignModelYearComponentSummary
GLS 450 4MATIC 2026 AIR BAGS:PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL:CUSHION Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2026 GLE 350 4MATIC, GLE ...
GLE 580 4MATIC 2026 AIR BAGS:PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL:CUSHION Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2026 GLE 350 4MATIC, GLE ...
AMG GLS63 4MATIC 2026 AIR BAGS:PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL:CUSHION Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2026 GLE 350 4MATIC, GLE ...
AMG GLE63 S 4MATIC 2026 AIR BAGS:PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL:CUSHION Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2026 GLE 350 4MATIC, GLE ...
GLE 450E 4MATIC 2026 AIR BAGS:PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL:CUSHION Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2026 GLE 350 4MATIC, GLE ...

What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized MERCEDES BENZ dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (PB-46-20-16E) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.