RoadVitals

1992 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.
5
Latest Nov 19, 2005
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500SL, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, brakes and electrical 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 & wheels240.0%
  • Brakes120.0%
  • Electrical120.0%
  • Interior & seats120.0%

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

Electrical
Filed Nov 19, 2005

UPON DISASSEMBLY OF THE INTAKE SYSTEM OF MY CAR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED - THE INSULATION USED ON THE WIRING HAD BECOME HARD AND BRITTLE, CAUSING MULTIPLE SHORTS AND PREVENTING IT FROM BEING RE-INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TOTAL COST APPROXIMATELY $1100. *JB

NHTSA ID
10143261
Incident
Nov 18, 2005
Mileage
161,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 19, 2004

PROBLEMS WITH MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW AND SPONGY. A MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN INSTALL MAY 2003. IN ADDITION THE ARS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART ITSELF AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD RISE FROM ZERO TO THE CORRECT SETTING. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL COMPLETELY BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE KEY AND RESTARTED IT AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THERE WOULD BE NO REPEAT PROBLEM WITH THE ASR (ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL). *NM

NHTSA ID
10083397
Incident
May 26, 2004
Mileage
8,913 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 5, 2003

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED 3 TIRE BLOW OUTS.*MR (NAR) APPROX 3 OUT OF 4 TIRES HAVE FAILED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST. *CB23.505 *JB

NHTSA ID
10046593
Incident
Dec 1, 2002
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 1, 2003
1 injury reported

SEAT CONTROL ADJUSTER ENGAGED SPONTANEOUSLY AND MOVED COMPLETELY FORWARD WHILE THE VEHICLE (1992 MERCEDES BENZ, 500 SL) WAS TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH ON BELTWAY EN ROUTE TO BWI, PINNING MY WIFE AGAINST STEERING WHEEL, ANFD FORCING HER TO DRIVE ONTO THE FAST LANE SHOULDER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10025229
Incident
May 1, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 11, 2000

THE FIRST TIRE WAS REPLACED WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASE DUE TO A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE. THE TIRES WERE THEN ONLY USED FOR SHORT CITY TRIPS. WHEN THE TIRES WERE DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR TWO HOURS THE THREAD SEPERATED COMPLETELY FROM THE SIDEWALLS..( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245-45Z-17 )

NHTSA ID
727589
Incident
Jul 26, 2000

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 500SL by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1992Viewing510—
1991310—
1990310—

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.