RoadVitals

1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SL

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Jul 21, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 28, 1993
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SL, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels266.7%
  • Visibility133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
93V067000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

Apr 28, 1993
14,300 units potentially affected
The defect: DURING THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF THE AIR FILTER HOUSING WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO MISROUTE THE PREFORMED VACUUM HOSE AND DAMAGE THE CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE. IF THE CHECK VALVE IS DAMAGED, LOSS OF SUFFICIENT BRAKE POWER ASSIST WILL OCCUR.
The risk: LACK OF SUFFICIENT BRAKE POWER ASSIST WILL INCREASESTOPPING DISTANCE AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE PREFORMED VACUUM HOSE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED PREFORMED HOSE WITH A RELOCATED CHECK VALVE WHICH WILL ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CHECK VALVE BEING DAMAGED.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 21, 2010

PIRELLI TIRES (4) BOUGHT 6/13/10. MY LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A THREE LANE HIGHWAY ON 7/21/10 (38 DAYS LATER). LUCKILY I WAS ON IN THE RIGHT LANE AND BARELY MADE IT TO AN EXIT LANE. THE TIRE IS PIRELLI FOUR SEASONS P6. 225/55R15 I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE BOUGHT FROM MR. TIRE IN ANNAPOLIS. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES. THE POLICEMAN CAME BY AND TOLD ME TO GET MY CAR OFF THE EXIT--HE DID NOT EVEN GET OUT OF HIS CAR TO SEE IF I WAS ALRIGHT.. I HAD ALREADY CALLED AAA PLUS TO TOW MY CAR TO MR. TIRE AND THAT IS WHERE IT IS NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10344630
Incident
Jul 21, 2010
Mileage
81,740 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed May 4, 2000

TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. (PIRELLI P6-205/65/R15)YH

NHTSA ID
552100
Visibility
Filed Dec 17, 1996

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE RAIN AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, IMPAIRING VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND AT A STAND STILL. *AK

NHTSA ID
805547

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 500SL by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1992510—
1991310—
1990Viewing310—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.