1995 Mercedes Benz SL500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 22 complaints (63.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 68.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 31.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.5% |
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 | 14 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Electrical System: 14; Electrical System:Wiring: 4; Engine: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 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 10182478 · 2007-02-13 (February 13, 2007)
MY 1996 MERCEDES SL500 WITH LESS THAN 55,000 MILES HAS CRUMBLING WIRE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE CONTROLS WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SHORTED WIRING IN THE ENGINE CONTROLS. THE POOR QUALITY OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES IS THE PROBLEM, YET THE CAR MAKER OR THE DEALER HAS NOT DONE A RECALL TO REPLACE THIS WIRING HARNESS FOR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. I AM TOLD THE COST TO REPLACE ALL THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WILL BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THE CAR MUST BE REWIRED BEFORE IT CAN BE DRIVEN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 56,871 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208852 · 2007-11-13 (November 13, 2007)
CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE ALSO CAUSING ADDITIONAL ERROR CODES ON MY COMPUTER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226361 · 2008-05-01 (May 1, 2008)
MY 1995 SL500 RECENTLY LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAULTY ALTERNATOR BUT, WHILE THE MB DEALERSHIP WAS LOOKING THE CAR OVER, THE EA WIRING HARNESS WAS FOUND TO BE DEGRADED IN SEVERAL PLACES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH ALSO INVOLVED REPLACING THE EA CONTROL UNIT AND THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATOR. THESE PARTS APPARENTLY COME AS KIT FOR ABOUT $4,000.00! I OPTED TO NOT HAVE THAT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME BUT, I WILL BE HAVING IT REPAIRED VERY VERY SOON! IT IS QUITE REMARKABLE THAT A BIODEGRADABL…
Owner-reported narrative. 563,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242737 · 2008-09-17 (September 17, 2008)
I HAVE A 1995 SL500 MERCEDES BENZ AND THE WIRES GOING TO THE BRAKE SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE, IF I HAD NOT HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THE HOLE CAR MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT FIRE ALSO I WAS NO GOING FAST WHEN THE FUMES STARTED CHOKING ME AND MY EYES BURNED. I COULD HAVE KILLED MY SELF OR SOMEONE ON THE ROAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246046 · 2008-10-19 (October 19, 2008)
I HAVE A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ AND THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND ALMOST HAD A WRECK TRYING TO STOP THE CAR SO I COULD GET OUT, WAS CHOKING FROM THE FUMES. SHOULD I HAVE WAITED UNTIL I HAD A WRECK AND KILLED SOMEONE. SINCE I HAVE READ ON LINE THAT 500 PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT THEY REPORTED TO YOU. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 141,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252708 · 2008-12-24 (December 24, 2008)
MY 1996 MERCEDES SL500 WITH LESS THAN 55,000 MILES HAS CRUMBLING WIRE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE CONTROLS WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SHORTED WIRING IN THE ENGINE CONTROLS. THE POOR QUALITY OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES IS THE PROBLEM, YET THE CAR MAKER OR THE DEALER HAS NOT DONE A RECALL TO REPLACE THIS WIRING HARNESS FOR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. I AM TOLD THE COST TO REPLACE ALL THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WILL BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE WITHIN THE MERCEDES COMMUNITY FOR THIS CAR THROUGH 1990-1995. THERE MUST BE THOUSANDS OF CARS INVO…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291681 · 2009-11-10 (November 10, 2009)
1995 SL500 HAD THE SAR LIGHT GO ON AND THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" AND BARELY RAN ENOUGH TO GET IT TO THE SERVICE GARAGE. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED A FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND SHOWED ME HOW THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES WAS LITERALLY BREAKING AWAY FROM THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. THIS HE SAID WAS SHORTING OUT THE CONTROL MODULE. HE TOLD ME HIS WAS VERY COMMON ON THE MERCEDES OF THIS VINTAGE AND THAT IT WAS A HAZARD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT AND MY WIFE BABY IT'S LIKE HER OWN CHILD. IT IS GARAGED EACH NIGHT AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE WIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291681 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.