Mercedes Benz SL600 problems and owner complaints

THE INSULATION ON THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS ENGINE AND BODY IS CRUMBLING EXPOSING BARE WIRES AND CAUSING SHORTS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON AND CAN'T BE FIXED THE ASR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. EVERY TIME THE MACHANIC TOUCHES THE WIRING SOMETHING ELSE FAILS. EVEN JUST DRIVING THE CAR AT ALL SETS OFF DIFFERENT LIGHTS. I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR 100 MILES IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS MOSTLY BACK AND FORTH TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS AT MUCH EXPENSE, NOW MERCEDES IS SAYING THAT THE HARNESS IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS A KN…

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10891702 at NHTSA ↗

KNOCKING NOISE BEGIN TO APPEAR BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. AT FIRST, BELIEVED TO BE LOOSE ITEM IN THE TRUNK BUT CHECK AND CAN'T FIND. LOOKED AT FORUM AND FOUND THAT MANY 2003/2004 MERCEDES BENZ SL CLASS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE GAS TANK BAFFLE. WHENEVER I BRAKE OR ACCELERATE, I HEAR THE KNOCKING NOISE, WHICH ALSO KNOCKS TWO OR THREE TIMES EVERYTIME I BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS HANGING FROM A STRING OR FLOATING AND THEN BECAUSE OF INERTIA IT KNOCKS AGAINST THE SIDE OF A CONTAINER. THE HAZARD THAT I FEAR IS THA…

Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341914 at NHTSA ↗

I AM FURIOUS THAT MERCEDES WOULD BUILD A OVER $100K VEHICLE AT ITS TIME WITH DEGRADABLE WIRING IN THE ENGINE AND FUEL COMPARTMENT. I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TODAY WHEN I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TO PULL OVER BECAUSE SMOKE WAS BELLOWING OUT UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I SMELLED A RICH ODOR FUEL AND THE IDLE ON THE VEHICLE WENT HAYWIRE. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE AND BLOW UP! I LATER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I FINALLY ARRIVED AT HOME TO FIND THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLS EVERYTHING F…

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10904866 at NHTSA ↗

CAR BEGAN STALLING AT CRUISE... INSPECTION OF IGNITION WIRING HARNESS REVEALED ROTTED WIRING WITH THE INSULATION ALL DISINTEGRATED, LEAVING WIRING GROUNDING OUT ON THE EXPOSED WIRING... THE VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING NOW AND REPAIRS TO THE HARNESS ARE BEYOND ANYTHING BUT BUYING A NEW, COMPLETE HARNESS FOR $1000 FROM MB. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AS FURTHER INQUIRY HAS ESTABLISHED THAT A BIO-DEGRADEABLE WIRING INSULATION WAS USED ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL, LEAVING THE INSULATION VULNERABLE TO HEAT DISINTEGRATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 79,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10722044 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE WIRING IS FAILING , THE INJECTOR WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE ACTUATORS WIRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ACTUATORS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS WIRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED BUT SINCE THE WIRING IN FAILING IT IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A HIGHER POLLUTION OUT PUT. THE BODY MOUNTED ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS FAILING CAUSING MANY FAILURES WITH ENGINE AND FUEL , EXHAUST , POLLUTION CONTROLS , AND OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS. THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRUM…

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10850896 at NHTSA ↗

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HER VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE DID ACT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE PAST. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK OR FIX THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIRS WILL HAVE TO BE PAID BY THE CONTACT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141998 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,100.

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10614504 at NHTSA ↗