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1997 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 →
9Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
199422
19956
19969
19976
19982
19992
2000
Compare all SL500 years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
4Electrical System
1Engine
1Power Train
1Seat Belts
1
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Structure
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 9 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.

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

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
114,000 miles · Apr 30, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

I HAD A WIRING HARNESS FIRE IN MY VEHICLE A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500, IT IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WIRE HARNESS BUT MERCEDES BENZ IS DECLINING ANY INVOLVEMENT, I KNOW OF 129 OTHER FAILURES IN LIKE VEHICLES, IT'S COSTING ME $10,000 TO FIX AND I WILL NOT HAVE MY CAR BACK UNTIL JULY 2007. THIS NEEDS TO STOP MERCEDES IS DEINYING …

Read full complaint

I HAD A WIRING HARNESS FIRE IN MY VEHICLE A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500, IT IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WIRE HARNESS BUT MERCEDES BENZ IS DECLINING ANY INVOLVEMENT, I KNOW OF 129 OTHER FAILURES IN LIKE VEHICLES, IT'S COSTING ME $10,000 TO FIX AND I WILL NOT HAVE MY CAR BACK UNTIL JULY 2007. THIS NEEDS TO STOP MERCEDES IS DEINYING ALL INVOLVMENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10189295

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.