1995 Mercedes Benz SL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 13 complaints (69.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 53.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.7% |
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 | 9 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Electrical System: 9; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
2003: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014590 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE ENGINE INJECTOR HARNESS FAILED, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THEY WOULD ONLY COVER 80% OF THE BILL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 49,475 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178705 · 2007-01-15 (January 15, 2007)
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS CRUMBLING LIKE CORN BREAD. IT IS CHEAPLY MADE, I READ THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH BEING RECYCLABLE. I HAVE A 50 YEAR OLD CHEVY WITH THE ORIGINAL WIRING HARNESS AND IT IS FINE. I WOULD NEVER, NEVER BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ AGAIN IN MY LIFE AND WILL WARN EVERYONE I KNOW. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203902 · 2007-09-24 (September 24, 2007)
I OWN A 1995 SL600 WITH JUST 42K MILES AND IN PRISTINE CONDITION. THE ASR SYSTEM PERIODICALLY AND RANDOMLY ENGAGED, EVEN WHEN SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT PRESENT. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN 9/22/07 AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN. THE MB DEALER INSPECTED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED MULTIPLE ERROR CODES. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS(S) BASICALLY MELTING DUE TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEAT. LUCKILY THE CAR DID NOT DETONATE. HOWEVER, THIS IS A DOCUMETED TYPICAL FAILURE. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS $6,000 AND THAT IS JUST FOR TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,581 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205907 · 2007-10-16 (October 16, 2007)
DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, CRACKED, CRUMBLED INSULATION, EXPOSING BARE WIRES AND SHORTING ASR, TRACTION CONTROL, FUEL INJECTION THROTTLE VALVE, AC NOT WORKING. THE I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND MANY HOURS ONLY TO FIND OEM WIRE IS DEFECTIVE! THE MB DEALER WANTS $ 6,000 FOR ONLY 1) SIDE OF THROTTLE VALVE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AND THE CAR HAS 2). AND THE THROTTLE VALVE IS NOT THE PROBLEM THE DEFECTIVE WIRING IS THE PROBLEM! ITS PLAIN TO SEE THAT NOTHING CAN FUNCTION PROPERLY IF BARE WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM! THIS IS…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,935 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221888 · 2008-03-20 (March 20, 2008)
THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 SL320 WAS REPLACED IN 1997 AND HAS DETERIORATED AND BROKE DOWN AGAIN CAUSING A FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 132,223 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228274 · 2008-05-20 (May 20, 2008)
WIRE HARNESS INSULATION DETERIORATING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254693 · 2009-01-12 (January 12, 2009)
CAR KEEPS STALLING PUTTING ME IN DANGER, ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY TRAVEL. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERSISTENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321332 · 2010-03-22 (March 22, 2010)
MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ SL600 (VIN [XXX])WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING WHICH HAS INSULATION WHICH DEGRADES OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES MANY PROBLEMS, THE MOST SERIOUS IN MY CASE BEING A DECELERATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TOO FAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN DEFECT IN MANY MERCEDES BUILT BETWEEN 1991 AND 1997. MERCEDES REFUSES TO FIX THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321332 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.