Mercedes Benz SL500 engine problems
11 complaint narratives mention engine terms.
Key facts
225 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 189 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Engine operation evidence
11 of 225 complaints match this topic (4.9%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10924326 · 2016-11-04 (November 4, 2016)
FACTORY MATERIAL DEFECT. ENGINE WIRE HARNESS INSULATION IS BREAKING DOWN AND FLAKING OFF, LEAVING EXPOSED WIRE. IGNITION IS POOR AND THREATENS TO STALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARMS UP TO 85-90C. I FEAR THE ENGINE MAY FAIL OR CATCH FIRE DURING A DRIVE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS ALSO A SHORT IN THE AUDIO SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS BEAUTIFUL. IT IS A SHAME TO HAVE IT SITTING SINCE 2008. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10924326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172352 · 2006-11-01 (November 1, 2006)
CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. STARTED SMALL FIRE THAT WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE ANY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. I REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS AND CLEANED ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WIRING HARNESS INSULATION HAD TURNED TO POWDER IN MANY LOCATIONS SHORTING FUEL INJECTORS, MASS SENSOR AND CAM MAGNETS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 119,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458245 · 2012-05-13 (May 13, 2012)
MERCEDES BENZ ENGINEERED THEIR 1995 SL500 WITH FAULTY WIRING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED TIMES WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE CROSSED AN INTERSECTION AND THE CAR STALLED, HAD NOT POWER AND JUST WOULD NOT RUN. THIS HAS ALMOST BEEN THE CAUSE OF MORE THAN ONE ACCIDENT. SEVERAL HOURS HAS BEEN SPENT BY MECHANICS WORKING ON THE CAR DOING RESEARCH TO DIAGNOSIS THE ISSUES. WE BECAME AWARE OF THE FAULTY WIRING THAT MERCEDES BENZ USED AND IN TURN HAS CAUSED SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THERE HAS BEEN $1,000.0…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10479888 · 2012-10-12 (October 12, 2012)
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AS IT WASN'T RUNNING PROPERLY (COMPUTER CODES, STALLING, ETC) FOUND OUT THAT IN 1995 THE MERCEDES BENZ COMPANY PUT BIODEGRADABLE WIRING. HAD TO SEND TO GERMANY FOR A NEW WIRING HARNESS ($1500) MAY HAVE TO PURCHASE THE OTHER WIRING HARNESS IN THE NEAR FUTURE ($3000). WHAT KIND OF CAR COMPANY PUTS BIODEGRADABLE WIRING IN THEIR CARS?? A MERCEDES IS KNOWN TO LAST UP TO SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES, BUT NOT WHEN THE WIRING STARTS DISINTEGRATING!! I HAVE SINCE FOUND THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CLASS ACTION SUIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511697 · 2013-05-13 (May 13, 2013)
WAS DRIVING CAR AND ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE, STUMBLE AND LOSE POWER AS I WAS CROSSING TRAFFIC INTO A SIDE ROAD. ALMOST WAS HIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A LARGE TRUCK THAT WAS MOVING AT ME AT OVER 50MPH. I HAD LEFT PLENTY OF TIME/SPACE TO DO THIS CROSSING PROPERLY. HOWEVER, THE CAR ALMOST STALLED OUT MID WAY ACROSS AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IN A TIMELY MANNER.. ENGINE GOT SLIGHT SURGE JUST IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO LIMP HOME. STARTED IT UP A FEW LATER AND RAN FINE …
Owner-reported narrative. 43,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511697 at NHTSA ↗