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1993 Mercedes Benz SL500

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: 6

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19926
19938
199422
19956
1996
Compare all SL500 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
4Air Bags
1Engine
1Engine And Engine Cooling
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: 6 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. 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

4 reports
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50 miles · May 12, 2018
Electrical SystemFire

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 HA…

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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 ODI #11093439

55,000 miles · Sep 9, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

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 …

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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 ODI #10762699

60,000 miles · Mar 8, 2010
Electrical System

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 ODI #10317729

100,000 miles · Mar 8, 2010
Electrical System

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. *T…

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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 ODI #10317711

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.