1996 Mercedes-Benz SL320 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 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
- Electrical233.3%
- Fuel system233.3%
- Heating & air conditioning116.7%
- Engine116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTERGRATING. CAR RUNS VERY ROUGH. VISIBLE BARE WIRES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. SMELLS OF BURNING WIRE.
MY CAR APPEARS TO OVER HEAT, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY JUST THE TEMP GAUGE JUMPING AROUND ERRATICALLY. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT'S THE WIRING HARNESS - A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THESE CARS WHICH IS BEING IGNORED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTERGRATING. CAR RUNS VERY ROUGH. VISIBLE BARE WIRES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. SMELLS OF BURNING WIRE.
FUEL : JUNE 07. GAS LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE NEAR BACK WHEEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. JUNE 11, TOOK TO MERCEDES DEALER TO HAVE CHECKED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. *AKTHEY STATED THAT IT IS AN UNDERCOATIING THAT IS LEAKING AND NOT OIL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. QCAW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTERGRATING. CAR RUNS VERY ROUGH. VISIBLE BARE WIRES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. SMELLS OF BURNING WIRE.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .