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1995 Mercedes Benz SL500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1995 Mercedes Benz SL500

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 22 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 18 reports
  • Engine: 4 reports
  • Fuel/propulsion System: 3 reports
  • Air Bags: 2 reports
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc): 2 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    2
    1992    6
    1993    8
    1994    22
    1995    6
    1996    9
    1997    6
    1998
    Compare all SL500 years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    18    Engine
    4    Fuel/propulsion System
    3    Air Bags
    2    Electronic Stability Control (esc)
    2
    All reported categories
    Steering
    2    Unknown Or Other
    2    Seat Belts
    1    Service Brakes
    1    Service Brakes, Electric
    1    Tires
    1    Traction Control System
    1    Vehicle Speed Control
    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: 19 of 22 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 3 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 reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

    Unknown Or Other complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    100,000 miles · Apr 8, 2019
    Unknown Or Other

    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 LOS…

    Read full complaint

    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 ODI #11194764

    1,000 miles · Aug 18, 2017
    Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFireInjury

    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 IMPLE…

    Read full complaint

    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 ODI #11016263

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.