1995 Mercedes-Benz SL600 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 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL600, 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
- Driver assistance233.3%
- Electrical233.3%
- Engine116.7%
- Fuel system116.7%
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
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE INSULATION ON THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS ENGINE AND BODY IS CRUMBLING EXPOSING BARE WIRES AND CAUSING SHORTS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON AND CAN'T BE FIXED THE ASR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. EVERY TIME THE MACHANIC TOUCHES THE WIRING SOMETHING ELSE FAILS. EVEN JUST DRIVING THE CAR AT ALL SETS OFF DIFFERENT LIGHTS. I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR 100 MILES IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS MOSTLY BACK AND FORTH TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS AT MUCH EXPENSE, NOW MERCEDES IS SAYING THAT THE HARNESS IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY EVERYONE WHO OWNS ,HAS OWNED OR WORKS ON THE EARLY TO MID 1990 MERCEDES. MERCEDES IS DENYING THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO IMPORT ANY CARS TO THE USA TILL THEY FIX THESE DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARDS. THE WIRING CONTROLS MOST OF THE CARS SAFETY FEATURES, ACCELERATION, SKID CONTROL, ANTILOCK BRAKES, LIGHTS , ALL DASH INSTRUMENTS. EVEN SHIFTING , SEATS , WINDOWS ,DOOR LOCKS. EVERY THING ELECTRICAL. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS BATTLE THAT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED 15 YEARS AGO. IT IS UNSAFE AND OUTSIDE THE EXPECTED NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE OF THIS AGE OR EVEN 30 YEARS OLDER. THEY USED INFERIOR PARTS AND SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR IT. LONG OVER DUE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT, TURNING, BRAKING, ACCELERATING, OR EVEN WHEN SITTING.
ENGINE WIRING IS FAILING , THE INJECTOR WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE ACTUATORS WIRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ACTUATORS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS WIRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED BUT SINCE THE WIRING IN FAILING IT IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A HIGHER POLLUTION OUT PUT. THE BODY MOUNTED ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS FAILING CAUSING MANY FAILURES WITH ENGINE AND FUEL , EXHAUST , POLLUTION CONTROLS , AND OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS. THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRUMBLING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE BAY WIRING HARNESSES. THE BODY MOUNTED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WHICH INCLUDES THE MASS FLOW SENSORS WIRING IS NOT AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE. DUE TO THE CRUMBLING WIRE SHORTING OUT AND MISS READING TESTS AND SHUT DOWN TO LIMP MODE. THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE. OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS THE ONLY MILES ON THE CAR HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. OTHER THEN ABOUT 100 MILES WHICH HAS BEEN THE DRIVE AFTER REPAIRS WHEN THE WIRING PROBLEM CAUSES ANOTHER PROBLEM WHICH MAKES THE CAR UN-DRIVABLE. SINCE IT THE WIRING FOR THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND ALL THE CONTROLS IS CRUMBLING AND EXPOSING BARE WIRES , IT HAPPENS WHILE IT SITS , WHEN IT MOVES , WHEN IT STOPS OR WHEN IT GOES. SO IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN WHILE NOT BEING DRIVEN AS WELL AS WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS HAS BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE 05/29/2007 AND IT IS WAITING TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP NOW FOR THE WIRING WHICH WE CAN EVEN BUY 03/21/2016.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE INSULATION ON THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS ENGINE AND BODY IS CRUMBLING EXPOSING BARE WIRES AND CAUSING SHORTS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON AND CAN'T BE FIXED THE ASR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. EVERY TIME THE MACHANIC TOUCHES THE WIRING SOMETHING ELSE FAILS. EVEN JUST DRIVING THE CAR AT ALL SETS OFF DIFFERENT LIGHTS. I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR 100 MILES IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS MOSTLY BACK AND FORTH TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS AT MUCH EXPENSE, NOW MERCEDES IS SAYING THAT THE HARNESS IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY EVERYONE WHO OWNS ,HAS OWNED OR WORKS ON THE EARLY TO MID 1990 MERCEDES. MERCEDES IS DENYING THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO IMPORT ANY CARS TO THE USA TILL THEY FIX THESE DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARDS. THE WIRING CONTROLS MOST OF THE CARS SAFETY FEATURES, ACCELERATION, SKID CONTROL, ANTILOCK BRAKES, LIGHTS , ALL DASH INSTRUMENTS. EVEN SHIFTING , SEATS , WINDOWS ,DOOR LOCKS. EVERY THING ELECTRICAL. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS BATTLE THAT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED 15 YEARS AGO. IT IS UNSAFE AND OUTSIDE THE EXPECTED NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE OF THIS AGE OR EVEN 30 YEARS OLDER. THEY USED INFERIOR PARTS AND SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR IT. LONG OVER DUE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT, TURNING, BRAKING, ACCELERATING, OR EVEN WHEN SITTING.
ENGINE WIRING IS FAILING , THE INJECTOR WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE ACTUATORS WIRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ACTUATORS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS WIRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED BUT SINCE THE WIRING IN FAILING IT IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A HIGHER POLLUTION OUT PUT. THE BODY MOUNTED ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS FAILING CAUSING MANY FAILURES WITH ENGINE AND FUEL , EXHAUST , POLLUTION CONTROLS , AND OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS. THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRUMBLING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE BAY WIRING HARNESSES. THE BODY MOUNTED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WHICH INCLUDES THE MASS FLOW SENSORS WIRING IS NOT AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE. DUE TO THE CRUMBLING WIRE SHORTING OUT AND MISS READING TESTS AND SHUT DOWN TO LIMP MODE. THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE. OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS THE ONLY MILES ON THE CAR HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. OTHER THEN ABOUT 100 MILES WHICH HAS BEEN THE DRIVE AFTER REPAIRS WHEN THE WIRING PROBLEM CAUSES ANOTHER PROBLEM WHICH MAKES THE CAR UN-DRIVABLE. SINCE IT THE WIRING FOR THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND ALL THE CONTROLS IS CRUMBLING AND EXPOSING BARE WIRES , IT HAPPENS WHILE IT SITS , WHEN IT MOVES , WHEN IT STOPS OR WHEN IT GOES. SO IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN WHILE NOT BEING DRIVEN AS WELL AS WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS HAS BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE 05/29/2007 AND IT IS WAITING TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP NOW FOR THE WIRING WHICH WE CAN EVEN BUY 03/21/2016.
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
THE INSULATION ON THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS ENGINE AND BODY IS CRUMBLING EXPOSING BARE WIRES AND CAUSING SHORTS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON AND CAN'T BE FIXED THE ASR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. EVERY TIME THE MACHANIC TOUCHES THE WIRING SOMETHING ELSE FAILS. EVEN JUST DRIVING THE CAR AT ALL SETS OFF DIFFERENT LIGHTS. I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR 100 MILES IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS MOSTLY BACK AND FORTH TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS AT MUCH EXPENSE, NOW MERCEDES IS SAYING THAT THE HARNESS IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY EVERYONE WHO OWNS ,HAS OWNED OR WORKS ON THE EARLY TO MID 1990 MERCEDES. MERCEDES IS DENYING THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO IMPORT ANY CARS TO THE USA TILL THEY FIX THESE DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARDS. THE WIRING CONTROLS MOST OF THE CARS SAFETY FEATURES, ACCELERATION, SKID CONTROL, ANTILOCK BRAKES, LIGHTS , ALL DASH INSTRUMENTS. EVEN SHIFTING , SEATS , WINDOWS ,DOOR LOCKS. EVERY THING ELECTRICAL. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS BATTLE THAT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED 15 YEARS AGO. IT IS UNSAFE AND OUTSIDE THE EXPECTED NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE OF THIS AGE OR EVEN 30 YEARS OLDER. THEY USED INFERIOR PARTS AND SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR IT. LONG OVER DUE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT, TURNING, BRAKING, ACCELERATING, OR EVEN WHEN SITTING.
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
ENGINE WIRING IS FAILING , THE INJECTOR WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE ACTUATORS WIRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ACTUATORS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS WIRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED BUT SINCE THE WIRING IN FAILING IT IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A HIGHER POLLUTION OUT PUT. THE BODY MOUNTED ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS FAILING CAUSING MANY FAILURES WITH ENGINE AND FUEL , EXHAUST , POLLUTION CONTROLS , AND OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS. THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRUMBLING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE BAY WIRING HARNESSES. THE BODY MOUNTED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WHICH INCLUDES THE MASS FLOW SENSORS WIRING IS NOT AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE. DUE TO THE CRUMBLING WIRE SHORTING OUT AND MISS READING TESTS AND SHUT DOWN TO LIMP MODE. THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE. OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS THE ONLY MILES ON THE CAR HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. OTHER THEN ABOUT 100 MILES WHICH HAS BEEN THE DRIVE AFTER REPAIRS WHEN THE WIRING PROBLEM CAUSES ANOTHER PROBLEM WHICH MAKES THE CAR UN-DRIVABLE. SINCE IT THE WIRING FOR THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND ALL THE CONTROLS IS CRUMBLING AND EXPOSING BARE WIRES , IT HAPPENS WHILE IT SITS , WHEN IT MOVES , WHEN IT STOPS OR WHEN IT GOES. SO IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN WHILE NOT BEING DRIVEN AS WELL AS WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS HAS BEEN A ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE 05/29/2007 AND IT IS WAITING TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP NOW FOR THE WIRING WHICH WE CAN EVEN BUY 03/21/2016.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .