NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Mercedes Benz SL500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 6 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 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1996 Mercedes Benz SL500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500, describing incidents dated January 25, 1996 to May 15, 2015.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 3 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire; across all 6 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10730969 · Filed June 29, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE…
ODI #10180927 · Filed January 28, 2007
1996 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500 ENGINE STALL WHEN DRIVE ON HIGHWAY DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. *JB
ODI #10081955 · Filed August 31, 2004
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR, THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR. *AK THE FAULTY DEVICE WAS DUE TO A TRANSISTOR THAT HAD GONE BAD ON THE ELECTRIC BOARD ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAVIEW MIRROR. *SC *JB

Read all 6 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 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #10730969

Fire 1 injury

Incident: May 15, 2015 · Filed: June 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE HARNESS MELTED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 07/01/15.*JB

Electrical System

ODI #10180927

Incident: January 25, 1996 · Filed: January 28, 2007

1996 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500 ENGINE STALL WHEN DRIVE ON HIGHWAY DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. *JB

Electrical System; Visibility

ODI #10081955

Incident: July 14, 2004 · Filed: August 31, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR, THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR. *AK THE FAULTY DEVICE WAS DUE TO A TRANSISTOR THAT HAD GONE BAD ON THE ELECTRIC BOARD ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAVIEW MIRROR. *SC *JB

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10043616

Crash

Incident: October 23, 2003 · Filed: October 27, 2003

SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED A CRASH INTO THE REAR WALL OF MY GARAGE.*AK

Visibility

ODI #8007375

Filed: April 11, 2002

PUMPS RUNS OUT OF WATER, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER KEEPS GOING ON HEADLAMPS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #770657

Incident: December 5, 2002 · Filed: December 9, 2002

FUEL LINE LEAKAGE AT FUEL PUMP-SECOND OCCURANCE. DT

Other Mercedes Benz SL500 model years

Check your 1996 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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