NHTSA vehicle safety data

1995 Mercedes Benz SL500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1995 Mercedes Benz SL500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 22 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercedes Benz dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1995 Mercedes Benz SL500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1995 Mercedes Benz SL500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Mercedes Benz SL500, describing incidents dated December 1, 1995 to March 8, 2019.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 18 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 2 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints

Of the 22 complaints on file, 3 report a fire; across all 22 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11194764 · Filed April 8, 2019
ENGINE WIRE HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED DUE TO MERCEDES' CHOICE TO USE BIODEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION. WIRES ARE SHORTING WHICH ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT, COULD LEAD TO A FIRE AND HAVE CAUSED THE ANTI SLIP REGULATOR SAFETY SYSTEM TO FAIL AND THE CAR TO RUN IN LIMP MODE WITH SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED POWER…
ODI #11162777 · Filed December 20, 2018
CAR CAN HARDLY RUN--WITHOUT STALLING-HARD TO START MERCEDES DEALER SAID TO SELL IT BECAUSE OF WIRING PROBLEMS.
ODI #11016263 · Filed August 18, 2017
91-96 MERCEDES ENGINE WIRE HARNESS DISINTEGRATES COMPLETELY TO SHORTING OUT ALL GAUGES AND ENGINE OPERATIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS... DEADLY DANGEROUS . THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A MASS GROUP TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NHTSA FOR…

Read all 22 complaints

REPLACEMENT WHEEL BEARING KIT

NHTSA #06E014000 · Wheels · NHTSA notice

Reported February 6, 2006 · ZF TRADING NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Potentially affected: 31,422 vehicles

Owners notified January 27, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN ZF TRADING NORTH AMERICA AFTERMARKET WHEEL BEARING KITS, LEMFOERDER P/N 1402301, SOLD FOR INSTALLATION ON 1992-2001 MERCEDES BENZ SL500 (R129) VEHICLES AFTER APRIL 1, 2005. THE CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS USED IN THE WHEEL BEARING KIT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, SHEAR OFF AND BREAK. IF BOTH CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS BREAK, THE BRAKE CALIPER MAY BECOME UNFIXED AND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKED, THE BRAKE ROTOR COULD DRAG THE CALIPER, CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE TO RUPTURE AND THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

ZF TRADING WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND REPAIR THE WHEEL BEARING KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 27, 2006.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET LEMFOERDER WHEEL BEARING KITS, P/N 14023010 AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON MERCEDES BENZ SL500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY MERCEDES BENZ.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1995 Mercedes Benz SL500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

22 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1995 Mercedes Benz SL500.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11194764

Incident: March 8, 2019 · Filed: April 8, 2019

ENGINE WIRE HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED DUE TO MERCEDES' CHOICE TO USE BIODEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION. WIRES ARE SHORTING WHICH ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT, COULD LEAD TO A FIRE AND HAVE CAUSED THE ANTI SLIP REGULATOR SAFETY SYSTEM TO FAIL AND THE CAR TO RUN IN LIMP MODE WITH SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED POWER. CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN I LOST POWER INITIALLY AND AT THE TIME WAS SURPRISED BY THE LOSS OF POWER. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO CONTROL ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED FULLY RESPONDING TO INPUT. I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND AM SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THIS HAS NOT BEEN PUT OUT AS A RECALL ITEM.

Electrical System; Air Bags; Engine

ODI #11162777

Incident: December 18, 2018 · Filed: December 20, 2018

CAR CAN HARDLY RUN--WITHOUT STALLING-HARD TO START MERCEDES DEALER SAID TO SELL IT BECAUSE OF WIRING PROBLEMS.

Electrical System; Unknown or Other

ODI #11016263

Fire 2 injuries

Incident: December 1, 1995 · Filed: August 18, 2017

91-96 MERCEDES ENGINE WIRE HARNESS DISINTEGRATES COMPLETELY TO SHORTING OUT ALL GAUGES AND ENGINE OPERATIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS... DEADLY DANGEROUS . THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A MASS GROUP TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NHTSA FOR NOT DEMANDING MERCEDES TO IMPLEMENT A RECALL ON ITS DEADLY MISTAKE. ( WE HAVE NOT LOST A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TODAY FROM 1989... THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

Steering; Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10966708

Incident: March 7, 2012 · Filed: 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

Electrical System; Air Bags; Service Brakes

ODI #10920297

Incident: October 8, 2014 · Filed: October 31, 2016

MERCEDES BENZ WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS 1993 ' 1995 CAR DOES NOT RUN CORRECT

Electrical System; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10724745

Incident: June 10, 2015 · Filed: June 11, 2015

CAR IMMEDIATELY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. DRIVING VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO STALL. WAS NOT ABLE TO EVEN PULL TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. WAS LATER ABLE TO JUMP START VEHICLE, HOWEVER STILL HAD ISSUES WITH STALLING AND NO ACCELERATION. HAVE BEEN INFORMED IT IS A "HARNESS WIRING ISSUE".

Seat Belts

ODI #10631372

Incident: July 1, 2014 · Filed: September 7, 2014

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS WEAKENED OVER TIME AND DOESN'T RETRACT THE BELT. BELT FITS LOOSE OVER TORSO AND GETS SHUT IN DOOR EASILY SINCE IT DOESN'T RETRACT POSSIBLY CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THIS SAFETY CRITICAL INSTALLATION. *TR

Steering; Electrical System; Engine

ODI #10513085

Incident: May 20, 2013 · Filed: 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-DEGRADABLE WIRING HARNESS. *TR

Electrical System; Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10511697

Incident: April 9, 2013 · Filed: May 13, 2013

WAS DRIVING CAR AND ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE, STUMBLE AND LOSE POWER AS I WAS CROSSING TRAFFIC INTO A SIDE ROAD. ALMOST WAS HIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A LARGE TRUCK THAT WAS MOVING AT ME AT OVER 50MPH. I HAD LEFT PLENTY OF TIME/SPACE TO DO THIS CROSSING PROPERLY. HOWEVER, THE CAR ALMOST STALLED OUT MID WAY ACROSS AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IN A TIMELY MANNER.. ENGINE GOT SLIGHT SURGE JUST IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO LIMP HOME. STARTED IT UP A FEW LATER AND RAN FINE AS I CAREFULLY DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. DEALER MECHANIC FOUND THE WIRE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE HARNESS AND THE GAS ACTUATOR WHERE SERIOUSLY DETERIORATED AND EXPOSING BARE WIRES INSIDE. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS COSTING OVER $3,300.00 PARTS AND LABOR FOR THESE 2 REPAIRS ALONE.. I THINK THIS DEFECT WOULD HAVE SHOW UP MUCH SOONER ON MY VEHICLE EXCEPT THAT I ONLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE SEASONALLY AND THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AT 44K. I COLLECT MANY OLD CARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS INSULATION DEFECT ON A 18 YEAR OLD VEHICLE BEFORE. I DO NOT THINK THIS DEFECT IS ACCEPTABLE ON A VEHICLE THAT ORIGINALLY COST NEARLY 100K. AS THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AND STARTED SHOWING UP MANY YEARS AGO ON OTHER CARS, MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD PROVIDE AT LEAST SOME RELIEF TO OWNERS FOR THE REPAIR COSTS OF THEIR POOR ENGINEERING. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10510279

Incident: June 18, 2008 · Filed: May 1, 2013

HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESSES IN THE CAR AT A COST OF $3500.00. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS AGAIN AT A SIMILAR COST. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS NONSENSE. *TR

Other Mercedes Benz SL500 model years

Check your 1995 Mercedes Benz SL500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz SL500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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