RoadVitals

1998 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 Oct 10, 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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500, most frequently naming the electrical, visibility and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 15 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

  • Electrical225.0%
  • Visibility225.0%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Fuel system112.5%
  • Tires & wheels112.5%

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 10, 2019

I HAVE A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ THAT I DO NOT DRIVE OFTEN AND KEEP WELL STORED IN A HEATED GARAGE. I WAS DRIVING IT AND NOTICED THE TIRE WAS LOW. I TOOK IT TO DISCOUNT TIRE, WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY TIRES WERE DOWN TO TREAD WEAR OF 2/32. THESE TIRES, ALTHOUGH PURCHASED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HAVE LESS THAN 11,000 MILES ON THEM. BOTH THE PLACE I PURCHASED THE TIRES AND THE NEW TIRE SHOP REFUSED TO HELP ME PROCESS ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ID
11267711
Incident
Oct 9, 2019
Mileage
92,204 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 2, 2017

CAR WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHEN THICK DARK BLACK SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE FROM THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND DOME LIGHT HOUSING.

NHTSA ID
10949170
Incident
Jul 2, 2016
Mileage
19 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jul 28, 2016

CAR WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHEN THICK DARK BLACK SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE FROM THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND DOME LIGHT HOUSING.

NHTSA ID
10889168
Incident
Jul 27, 2016
Mileage
18,677 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed May 17, 2015

DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE DIES. CAR BECOMES DEAD, VERY DANGEROUS , AT NIGHT MIDDLE LANE OF PACIFIC COAST HWY. CANT USE BREAKS, EVERYTHING IS DEAD! CANT STEER NOTHING. COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TWICE. NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN IM ON THE FREEWAY, THATS A PROBLEM, ENDANGERING ME AND EVERYONE AROUND. THIS IS NUTS BECAUSE I PRIDE MYSELF ON KEEPING MY CAR IN TIP TOP SHAPE ALWAYS AND THIS IS UNDETECTABLE . BUT EXPENSIVE TO TRY AND FIND OUT UNTIL I SAW THAT 800 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME THING! WHAT WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

NHTSA ID
10716917
Incident
May 17, 2015
Mileage
153,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HEADLAMP WIPER ARM WAS MISALIGNED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WASHER PUMP WOULD RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V175000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID
10667761
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
35,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 2010

HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS FOR SOFT TOP AND HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE FAILS AND LEAKS. ALL 12 OF THE CYLINDERS FAILS DUE TO HYDRAULIC FLUID CORROSION THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. COSTS 12000(TWELVE THOUSANDS DOLLARS TO FIX). *TR

NHTSA ID
10352014
Incident
Aug 10, 2010
Mileage
55,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

LI27.50-P-071658

POWER TRAIN

Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R

LI27.50-P-049281

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D

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)

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—
1998Viewing610—
1997920—
1996610—
1995221044.9
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.