RoadVitals

1993 Mercedes-Benz SL500

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.
6
Latest May 12, 2018
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 Feb 6, 2006
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Mercedes-Benz SL500, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and airbags categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 13 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

  • Electrical457.1%
  • Engine228.6%
  • Airbags114.3%

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
06E014000

WHEELS

Feb 6, 2006
31,422 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN ZF TRADING NORTH AMERICA AFTERMARKET WHEEL BEARING KITS, LEMFOERDER P/N 1402301, SOLD FOR INSTALLATION ON 1992-2001 MERCEDES BENZ SL500 (R129) VEHICLES AFTER APRIL 1, 2005. THE CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS USED IN THE WHEEL BEARING KIT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, SHEAR OFF AND BREAK. IF BOTH CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS BREAK, THE BRAKE CALIPER MAY BECOME UNFIXED AND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKED, THE BRAKE ROTOR COULD DRAG THE CALIPER, CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE TO RUPTURE AND THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: ZF TRADING WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND REPAIR THE WHEEL BEARING KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 27, 2006.
ZF TRADING NORTH AMERICA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed May 12, 2018
Fire reported

MY 1993 MER BENZ FFIRST STARTED TO LOSE ITS POWER KINDA LIKE LIMP MODE CUZ THE RPM WOULDNT GO PAST 2,000 UNTIL ONE DAY IT STARTED SMOKING REALLY BAD THRU THE VENTS AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD UNTIL THE CAR TURNED OFF AND HASNT TURNED BACK ON SINCE I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL. SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FIRE THE WIRING HARNESS HAD STARTED DUE TO THE WIRES LOSING ITS INSULATION

NHTSA ID
11093439
Incident
Feb 22, 2018
Mileage
50 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 9, 2015

BAD WIRING HARNESS. INSULATION DANGEROUSLY DEGRADED WITHIN SHEATHING, CAUSING A SHORT IN MY ENGINE. THIS SHOULD BE A MERCEDES RECALL WITH PARTS AND LABOR REPAIRS PAID BY MERCEDES. THIS PROBLEM IS AS SERIOUS AS THE RECENT IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A MULTIPLE FATALITY WRECK. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP!

NHTSA ID
10762699
Incident
Sep 9, 2015
Mileage
55,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 31, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSULATION OVER THE COPPER WIRING HARNESS WHEN IT WAS EXPOSED TO THE HEAT IN THE ENGINE BECAME EXPOSED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ID
10403922
Incident
May 31, 2010
Mileage
146,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 2010

WIRING INSULATION BREAKING DOWN IN THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE CONTROLS CAUSING DAMAGE INSULATION HAS COME OFF AND WIRES BARE AND TOUCHING . *TR

NHTSA ID
10317729
Incident
Mar 8, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 2010

ELECTRICAL WIRING INSULATION IS DEGRADING ON WIRING HARNESS(S) IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF LIFE OR SERVE PROPERTY LOSS. I FEEL MERCEDES SHOULD PROVIDE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THESE WIRING HARNESS'S ON AFFECTED MODEL SL500, YEARS 1991 THRU 1996 REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10317711
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 9, 2007

A YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THIS BEAUTY THE AIR BAG LIGHTCOME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE PERFORMANCEWAS GREATLY EFFECTED AND IT BROKE MY HEART TO LOSE MY BRAGGING RIGHTS ON THE 1993 500SL , ONLY 68000 MILES. *AK PLEASE FIND A WAY FOR ME TO AFFORDABLY FIX THIS.

NHTSA ID
10192826
Incident
May 14, 2007
Mileage
72,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

LI82.70-P-060004

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

iPhone mobile phone: Various complaints after software update to iOS8

LI27.00-P-051451

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Shift quality complaints on TRANSMISSION 722.9 (7G-TRONIC and 7G-TRONIC PLUS)

LI27.55-P-058976

POWER TRAIN

Possible minor leakage at described components or oil transfer from assembly plant.

LI42.10-P-058535

SUSPENSION

The noise comes from the front axle. Vehicles without code B07 (AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system)

LI46.15-P-057157

STEERING

Height adjustment of electric steering column adjustment is nonfunctional.

GI88.40-P-057430

EQUIPMENT

Message in instrument cluster "DISTRONIC PLUSCurrently Unavailable - See Owner's Manual"

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz SL500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009200—
2008000—
2007000—
2006130027.0
2005190038.7
2004450151.9
2003800138.7
2001310—
2000211—
1999210—
1998610—
1997920—
1996610—
1995221044.9
1994810—
1993Viewing610—
1992210—

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.