Mercedes Benz SL500 steering problems
12 complaint narratives mention steering 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.
Steering behavior evidence
12 of 225 complaints match this topic (5.3%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10513085 · 2013-05-22 (May 22, 2013)
THIS VEHICLE HAS A BIO-DEGRADABLE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THESE HARNESSES ARE DETERIORATING. MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER, NO POWER STEERING, NO NOTHING ON A FREEWAY AND I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT KILLED. MERCEDES AND THE DEALERSHIPS BOTH KNOW THAT VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE HARNESS ARE DEATH TRAPS. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN KILLED, BUT WIRING HARNESS WAS NEVER INVESTIGATED AS CAUSE OF ACCIDENT. WHY ARE YOU NOT TAKING ACTION AGAINST MERCEDES? EVERY VEHICLE STILL ON THE ROAD SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY IF IT HAS A BIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10966708 · 2017-03-18 (March 18, 2017)
I HAVE 1995 SL500 LAST 8 YEARS HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES, RELATED TO WIRING HARNESS ,MISFIRE ,STEERING PUMP,AIR PUMP AND MORE. I AM THE FIRST OWNER.ALL THE WIRES ARE DETERIORATING,I THNIK WE NEED NHTSA TO INSPECT THESE CAR MANUFACTURERS.IF MANUFACTURER INSTALLED THE FAULTY WIRING THEY SHOULD STAND UP AND OFFER REPAIRS AT THE MERCEDES DEALERS.FREE. REGARDS
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10966708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10522165 · 2013-06-27 (June 27, 2013)
WIRING INSULATION FOR LIGHTS AND POWER STEERING DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING MASSIVE SHORTS IN MULTIPLE SYSTEMS, DRAINING THE BATTERY AND RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I MANEUVERED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ONTO AN OFF RAMP THAT PROVIDED A SAFE EXIT FROM THE 6 LANE BELTWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, POWER STEERING, HALF OF THE INSTRUMENTS (INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER), BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM ARE INOPERABLE DUE TO BARE WIRES SHORTING OUT THE WIRING HARNESSES. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS BEGINS WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. 137,452 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392937 · 2011-03-26 (March 26, 2011)
VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING MINOR LEAK OF PINK COLOR FLUID THAT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP IDENTIFIED AS HYDRAULIC FLUID FOR ABC SUSPENSION SYSTEM. FROM A VISUAL INSPECTION, THE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM ABC TANDEM PUMP. THE LEAK GOT WORSE BY THE WEEK AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY PARKED AFTER A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF FLUID WAS BUILDING UP ON THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER A WEEK, THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER THE ENGINE AND THE WHOLE LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE BOTTOMED OUT AND LITERALLY SUNK OVER THE FRONT LEFT AND REAR LEFT TIRES. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP (WALNUT CRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453121 · 2012-03-26 (March 26, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE IDLER PULLEY SIMPLY FELL OFF THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY, THE BELT CAME OFF TOO. THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL SINCE THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. ADDITIONALLY, BREAKING EFFORT INCREASED, STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, AND A FEW OTHER NON-ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS BECAME INOPERABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453121 at NHTSA ↗