RoadVitals

1995 Mercedes-Benz SL320 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
16
Latest Jul 7, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL320, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical1168.8%
  • Engine212.5%
  • Airbags16.3%
  • Exterior lighting16.3%
  • Visibility16.3%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

(XXXX) BIODEGRADING WIRING HARNESS REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID 11229850 · filed Jul 7, 2019

MY VEHICLE IS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ SL320R AND WAS BUILT WITH BIODEGRADABLE WIRING INSULATION IN THE ENGINE HARNESS. THE INSULATION IS DETERIORATING AND CAUSING PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS 131,000 MILES. I'M THE 3RD OWNER. POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET INDICATE POTENTIALLY FATAL FAILURES ARE POSSIBLE. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE?

NHTSA ID 11203157 · filed Apr 23, 2019
All 11 reports naming electrical →

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MAF CONNECTOR CAUGHT FIRE, WIRING INSULATION DETERIOTED CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS HAPPEN IN MY GARAGE WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, IF I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WOULD HAVE BURNED EVERYTHING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

NHTSA ID 10838855 · filed Feb 28, 2016

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED AND STARTED SMOKING. ENGINE STALLED THIS REDUCED VEHICLE CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. *JS

NHTSA ID 10579461 · filed Apr 13, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A DIAGNOSTIC CODE INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE (LOCATED IN THE DASH BOARD, BEHIND THE RADIO) WAS NOT WORKING. THIS IS NOT A SERVICEABLE PART. A NEW MODULE IS $1,400, REPEAT, YES, $1,400, NOT INSTALLED. I THINK AIR BAG EQUIPMENT SHOULD HAVE LIFE TIME WARRANTIES AND CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT BE $1,400. THE WOULD APPEAR TO BE PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE SAFETY. I AM A TEACHER, NOT A STOCK BROKER. I BOUGHT THIS CAR THREE YEARS AGO ( THE VEHICLE WAS17 YEARS OLD). IT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AND WELL MAINTAINED. IF THE ENGINE THREW A ROD OR THE TRANS WENT OUT, MY TOUGH LUCK. BUT I THINK SAFETY THINGS SUCH AS AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE LIFE TIME WARRANTIES. *TR

NHTSA ID 10649751 · filed Oct 24, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, BULB WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON

NHTSA ID 10873543 · filed Jun 9, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AFTER A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT BY SAFELITE AUTO GLASS I HAD 3 SMALL IMPACT WHICH CAUSED A CRACK AND NOW IS GROWING, I BELIEVE THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IS NOT TO STANDARDS, AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS BACK TO SAFELITE AND A CALL TO THE COMPANY'S CORPORATE OFFICE ALL THEY WILL DO IS OFFER A REDUCED PRICE FOR THE SAME QUALITY PRODUCT, UNACCEPTABLE!!!

NHTSA ID 10819643 · filed Jan 12, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .