1995 Mercedes Benz SL320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
137,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 16 complaints (68.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 68.8% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 31.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
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 | 11 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
Electrical System: 11; Engine: 2; Air Bags: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10644918 · 2014-10-15 (October 15, 2014)
HELLO MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I OWN A 1995 SL320. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER OF IMPORTANCE OF LIFE AND DEATH. THE MERCEDES BENZ ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE AND MB KNOWS THIS. LISTED BELOW IS AN ARTICLE I FOUND WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF REPLACING AND THE IGNORANCE ON MERCEDES BEHALF. THIS HARNESS CONTAINS HUNDREDS OF WIRES BUNDLED INSIDE TIGHTLY WRAPPED TAPE. THE WIRES COMMUNICATE INFORMATION FROM THE MANY SENSORS OF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES BACK TO THE COMPUTER MODULES. THE MODULES USE THIS I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10644918 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10649751 · 2014-10-24 (October 24, 2014)
THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A DIAGNOSTIC CODE INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE (LOCATED IN THE DASH BOARD, BEHIND THE RADIO) WAS NOT WORKING. THIS IS NOT A SERVICEABLE PART. A NEW MODULE IS $1,400, REPEAT, YES, $1,400, NOT INSTALLED. I THINK AIR BAG EQUIPMENT SHOULD HAVE LIFE TIME WARRANTIES AND CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT BE $1,400. THE WOULD APPEAR TO BE PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE SAFETY. I AM A TEACHER, NOT A STOCK BROKER. I BOUGHT THIS CAR THREE YEARS AGO ( THE VEHICLE WAS17 YEARS OLD). IT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AND WELL MAINTAINED. IF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10649751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10689564 · 2015-02-20 (February 20, 2015)
TODAY, AFTER A ROUTINE LOF SERVICE, MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY SL320 HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT MY CAR WAS UNSAFE. HE CLAIMS THAT THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MADE OF A BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL AND THAT IT HAS NOW BIODEGRADED TO THE POINT THAT THERE NO LONGER IS ANY INSULATION, HE CLAIMS THAT MERCEDES KNOWS THAT THEIR HARNESSES ARE DEFECTIVE BUT THEY WILL TAKE NO ACTION IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM, INDEED FOR MANY YEARS THEY SOLD REPLACEMENT HARNESSES WITH THE SAME DEFECT. WHO KNOWS WHAT THE CURRENT WIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10689564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10693881 · 2015-03-12 (March 12, 2015)
MY MERCEDES BENZ 1994 WIRE HARNESS SHORTED DUE TO FAULTY INSULATION. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO HAVE THE AUTO TOWED. I UNDERSTAND THE OVER 1 MILLION MB CARS ARE EFFECTED. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 126,609 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808672 · 2015-12-06 (December 6, 2015)
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, ETA WIRING HARNESS, FUEL INJECTION WIRING DEFECTIVE CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL AND ELECTRICAL TO CEASE WHILE IN MOTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819643 · 2016-01-12 (January 12, 2016)
AFTER A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT BY SAFELITE AUTO GLASS I HAD 3 SMALL IMPACT WHICH CAUSED A CRACK AND NOW IS GROWING, I BELIEVE THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IS NOT TO STANDARDS, AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS BACK TO SAFELITE AND A CALL TO THE COMPANY'S CORPORATE OFFICE ALL THEY WILL DO IS OFFER A REDUCED PRICE FOR THE SAME QUALITY PRODUCT, UNACCEPTABLE!!!
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819643 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.