SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

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

Seat Belts complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
209,000 miles · Jan 23, 2020
Air BagsSeat Belts

VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 209K MILES. SUNDAY 1/19/20 DRIVING WB ON MONTAUK HIGHWAY (NYS 27A?) AT QUOGUE NY. SPEED APPROX. 35-40 MPH. SLIGHT TURN/BEND IN ROAD TO THE RIGHT. SUNNY, DRY PAVEMENT. NO OTHER CARS FOLLOWING OR AHEAD, EITHER DIRECTION. VERY LOUD BANG HEARD INSIDE CABIN, BOTH SEATBELTS IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENED AND BOTH DRIVER …

Read full complaint

VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 209K MILES. SUNDAY 1/19/20 DRIVING WB ON MONTAUK HIGHWAY (NYS 27A?) AT QUOGUE NY. SPEED APPROX. 35-40 MPH. SLIGHT TURN/BEND IN ROAD TO THE RIGHT. SUNNY, DRY PAVEMENT. NO OTHER CARS FOLLOWING OR AHEAD, EITHER DIRECTION. VERY LOUD BANG HEARD INSIDE CABIN, BOTH SEATBELTS IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENED AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FELT STRONG AIR BLAST; THAT EACH DESCRIBED AS BEING HIT IN CHEST. SOUND/AIRBLAST FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A BURNING/GUNPOWDER SMELL AND SLIGHT WHITE SMOKE IN CABIN. SRS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD WENT ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND OBSERVED NO OBJECTS IN ROAD BEHIND VEHICLE. ALSO, NO POTHOLES OR ROAD DEFECTS, ONLY SMOOTH PAVEMENT. NO DAMAGE TO FRONT OR SIDE OF VEHICLE OBSERVED. PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTED BUT LOCKED. DRIVER'S SEATBELT RETRACTED AND FUNCTIONED AFTER INCIDENT. ASSUMED BOTH AIRBAGS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER ) ACTIVATED BUT DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME WITH SRS LIGHT AND NON WORKING PASSENGER SEATBELT. MB DEALER SERVICE DEPT. (HUNTINGTON MB) DENIES THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED (AIRBAG ACTIVATION AND/OR NO DEPLOYMENT). SAYS PROBABLY SEATBELT.

NHTSA ODI #11301461

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.