RoadVitals

1993 Mercedes-Benz Sl Series

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.
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Latest Dec 10, 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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Mercedes-Benz Sl Series, most frequently naming the airbags, driver assistance and electrical categories. 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Airbags116.7%
  • Driver assistance116.7%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Interior & seats116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistance
Filed Dec 10, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR, WIRING HARNESS AND ECU. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10369911
Incident
Nov 1, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 1, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF THE TIME, THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10174921
Incident
Dec 1, 2006
Mileage
81,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 13, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON 1993 MERCEDES 500 SEL ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT. THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING CRUMBLED OFF. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT CONSUMER'S COST. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10136391
Incident
Jul 4, 2005
Mileage
124,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed May 4, 2005

CONTACT STATES: THE TIRES ARE EGG SHAPED NOT ROUND. THERE IS NO WAY TO ALIGN THE TIRES. THE METAL CORDS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES. THE TIRES ARE 1 YEAR OLD. THE TIRES CAN NOT BE BALANCED... THE TIRES WERE STORED DURING THE WINTER, AND THERE WAS NO USE WITH THESE TIRE DURING THIS TIME. THE TIRE ACTUALLY ABOUT 6 MONTHS WEAR ON THEM, AND THEY WERE EXPENSIVE. THESE WERE BOUGHT FROM THE MANUFACTURER DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10119844
Incident
May 4, 2005
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 9, 1997

OWNER WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE AIR BAG IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE (600 SL) WHEN YOUNG CHILD IS RIDING UP IN THE FRONT. POSSIBILITY OF VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA ID
516331

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-P-047527

PARKING BRAKE

MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CONSIDERATION DELAY WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

TSB-42-10-109

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *PE

SB-090930

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS; TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

MERCEDES: THE LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR MODELS 211, MODEL 219 AND MODELS 230 WAS EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 YEARS/50,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY APPLIES TO ALL CONDITIONS THAT JUSTIFY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT UNDER THE STANDARD WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.