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U.S. public vehicle records

1995 Mercedes Benz SL320 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

16 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

137,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 16 complaints (68.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1168.8%
Engine operation531.3%
Braking behavior16.3%
Steering behavior16.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
11
Engine
2
Air Bags
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Visibility/Wiper
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System11
Engine2
Air Bags1
Exterior Lighting1
Unknown Or Other1
Visibility/Wiper1

Electrical System: 11; Engine: 2; Air Bags: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
8
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9998
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 4

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2014
4
2015
3
2016
5
2018
2
2019
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20144
20153
20165
20182
20192

2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10578760 · 2014-04-09 (April 9, 2014)

UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED SHORTING OUT WIRES CONTROLLING ENGINE. CAUSING INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLING CAUSING REDUCED AND/OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578760 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10579461 · 2014-04-13 (April 13, 2014)

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED AND STARTED SMOKING. ENGINE STALLED THIS REDUCED VEHICLE CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579461 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10885736 · 2016-07-18 (July 18, 2016)

THE ENGINE BAY WIRING HARNESSES HAVE DISINTEGRATED ON THE CAR DUE TO USE OF HEAT SUSCEPTIBLE WIRE INSULATION. THIS HAS CAUSED BARE WIRES TO SHORT OUT IN THE ENGINE BAY. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPONTANEOUSLY SURGE RESULTING IN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. SUBSEQUENT TO THE SURGING, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE WITH WAS CAUSING THESE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, ELECTRICAL ARCING AND SMOLDERING OF THE WIRING BECAME APPARENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS…

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885736 at NHTSA ↗