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1996 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
6
19938
199422
19956
19969
19976
19982
1999
Compare all SL500 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
3Visibility
2Engine
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Vehicle 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: 4 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 2 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.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

3 reports
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98,000 miles · Jun 29, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFireInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE HARNESS MELTED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 07/01/15.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10730969

72,000 miles · Jan 28, 2007
Electrical System

1996 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500 ENGINE STALL WHEN DRIVE ON HIGHWAY DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10180927

50,000 miles · Aug 31, 2004
Electrical SystemVisibility

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR, THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR. *AK THE FAULTY DEVICE WAS DUE TO A TRANSISTOR THAT HAD GONE BAD ON THE ELECTRIC BOARD ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAVIEW MIRROR. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10081955

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.