RoadVitals

1995 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.
22
Latest Apr 8, 2019
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.
3
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and fuel system 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

  • Electrical1850.0%
  • Engine411.1%
  • Fuel system38.3%
  • Airbags25.6%
  • Brakes25.6%
  • Driver assistance25.6%
  • Steering25.6%
  • Seat belts12.8%

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

View all 22
Filed Apr 8, 2019

ENGINE WIRE HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED DUE TO MERCEDES' CHOICE TO USE BIODEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION. WIRES ARE SHORTING WHICH ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT, COULD LEAD TO A FIRE AND HAVE CAUSED THE ANTI SLIP REGULATOR SAFETY SYSTEM TO FAIL AND THE CAR TO RUN IN LIMP MODE WITH SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED POWER. CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN I LOST POWER INITIALLY AND AT THE TIME WAS SURPRISED BY THE LOSS OF POWER. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO CONTROL ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED FULLY RESPONDING TO INPUT. I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND AM SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THIS HAS NOT BEEN PUT OUT AS A RECALL ITEM.

NHTSA ID
11194764
Incident
Mar 8, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 20, 2018

CAR CAN HARDLY RUN--WITHOUT STALLING-HARD TO START MERCEDES DEALER SAID TO SELL IT BECAUSE OF WIRING PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
11162777
Incident
Dec 18, 2018
Electrical
Filed Aug 18, 2017
Fire reported2 injuries reported

91-96 MERCEDES ENGINE WIRE HARNESS DISINTEGRATES COMPLETELY TO SHORTING OUT ALL GAUGES AND ENGINE OPERATIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS... DEADLY DANGEROUS . THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A MASS GROUP TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NHTSA FOR NOT DEMANDING MERCEDES TO IMPLEMENT A RECALL ON ITS DEADLY MISTAKE. ( WE HAVE NOT LOST A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TODAY FROM 1989... THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

NHTSA ID
11016263
Incident
Dec 1, 1995
Mileage
1,000 mi
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Mar 18, 2017

I HAVE 1995 SL500 LAST 8 YEARS HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES, RELATED TO WIRING HARNESS ,MISFIRE ,STEERING PUMP,AIR PUMP AND MORE. I AM THE FIRST OWNER.ALL THE WIRES ARE DETERIORATING,I THNIK WE NEED NHTSA TO INSPECT THESE CAR MANUFACTURERS.IF MANUFACTURER INSTALLED THE FAULTY WIRING THEY SHOULD STAND UP AND OFFER REPAIRS AT THE MERCEDES DEALERS.FREE. REGARDS

NHTSA ID
10966708
Incident
Mar 7, 2012
Mileage
145,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed Oct 31, 2016

MERCEDES BENZ WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS 1993 ' 1995 CAR DOES NOT RUN CORRECT

NHTSA ID
10920297
Incident
Oct 8, 2014
Mileage
135,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 11, 2015

CAR IMMEDIATELY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. DRIVING VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO STALL. WAS NOT ABLE TO EVEN PULL TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. WAS LATER ABLE TO JUMP START VEHICLE, HOWEVER STILL HAD ISSUES WITH STALLING AND NO ACCELERATION. HAVE BEEN INFORMED IT IS A "HARNESS WIRING ISSUE".

NHTSA ID
10724745
Incident
Jun 10, 2015
Seat belts
Filed Sep 7, 2014

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS WEAKENED OVER TIME AND DOESN'T RETRACT THE BELT. BELT FITS LOOSE OVER TORSO AND GETS SHUT IN DOOR EASILY SINCE IT DOESN'T RETRACT POSSIBLY CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THIS SAFETY CRITICAL INSTALLATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10631372
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed May 22, 2013

THIS VEHICLE HAS A BIO-DEGRADABLE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THESE HARNESSES ARE DETERIORATING. MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER, NO POWER STEERING, NO NOTHING ON A FREEWAY AND I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT KILLED. MERCEDES AND THE DEALERSHIPS BOTH KNOW THAT VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE HARNESS ARE DEATH TRAPS. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN KILLED, BUT WIRING HARNESS WAS NEVER INVESTIGATED AS CAUSE OF ACCIDENT. WHY ARE YOU NOT TAKING ACTION AGAINST MERCEDES? EVERY VEHICLE STILL ON THE ROAD SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY IF IT HAS A BIO-DEGRADABLE WIRING HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10513085
Incident
May 20, 2013
Mileage
103,000 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—
1995Viewing221044.9
1994810—
1993610—
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.