Mercedes Benz SL320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
139,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2000 model years. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 28 complaints (53.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 64.3% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 17.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.6% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Electrical System: 15; Engine: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 10 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 7; 2018: 2; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 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 10907513 · 2016-09-19 (September 19, 2016)
MY MB SL320, 1994 ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES AND THE SENSIOR WIRE HARNESS IS ALL FRAILED AND COPPER WIRING EXPOSED DO TO RECYCLED COVERING MB USED WITCH SHOULD OF NEVER BEEN USED AND SHOULD OF BEEN RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT. READING ON INTERNET THIS IS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH IF SHOULD SHORT OUT HAS THIS ITEM BEEN ON RECALL AND IF NOT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE MERCEDES RESPONSIBLE?
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10907513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10918590 · 2016-10-24 (October 24, 2016)
WIRING HARNESS FAILURE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10918590 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 1; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0