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1997 Mercedes Benz SL320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
199416
19954
19966
19973
19982
19991
2000
Compare all SL320 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Equipment
1Seat Belts
1Visibility
1
All reported categories
Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO USE THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE BUT IT DID NOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER THEN OPENED THE TRUNK AND AT THAT TIME THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE CONSUER THEN NOTICED THAT THE BLACK BOX, IM…

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WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO USE THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE BUT IT DID NOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER THEN OPENED THE TRUNK AND AT THAT TIME THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE CONSUER THEN NOTICED THAT THE BLACK BOX, IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE BATTER, BURNED. TEH VEHICLE ALSO LEAKED OIL. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015883

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

BURN SMELL COMING FROM ELECTRICAL HARNESS BOX. MR THE HARNESS BOX WAS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN OIL LEAK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015179

Official recalls

1

99V327000 · Air Bags:frontal

Nov 22, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CORROSION OF THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION FILAMENT OF THE AIR BAG GAS GENERATOR MODULE CAN OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN AREAS OF FREQUENTLY HIGH HUMIDITY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CORROSION OF THE IGNITION FILAMENT CAN RESULT IN THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG BEING DEPLOYED UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.