NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Mercedes Benz SL500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Mercedes Benz SL500 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 9 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 1997 Mercedes Benz SL500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1997 Mercedes Benz SL500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Mercedes Benz SL500, describing incidents dated January 31, 2001 to January 19, 2020.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 4 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Seat Belts 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint

Of the 9 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 9 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11301461 · Filed January 23, 2020
VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 209K MILES. SUNDAY 1/19/20 DRIVING WB ON MONTAUK HIGHWAY (NYS 27A?) AT QUOGUE NY. SPEED APPROX. 35-40 MPH. SLIGHT TURN/BEND IN ROAD TO THE RIGHT. SUNNY, DRY PAVEMENT. NO OTHER CARS FOLLOWING OR AHEAD, EITHER DIRECTION. VERY LOUD BANG HEARD INSIDE CABIN, BOTH SEATBELTS IMMEDIATELY…
ODI #10522165 · Filed June 27, 2013
WIRING INSULATION FOR LIGHTS AND POWER STEERING DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING MASSIVE SHORTS IN MULTIPLE SYSTEMS, DRAINING THE BATTERY AND RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I MANEUVERED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ONTO AN OFF RAMP THAT PROVIDED A SAFE EXIT FROM THE 6 LANE BELTWAY AND HAD TO…
ODI #10411530 · Filed July 8, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED UP TO 70 MPH AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUFFERED BROKEN RIBS AND A SHATTERED SPINE. THE CONTACT…

Read all 9 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.

MERCEDES-BENZ/AIR BAG MODULE

NHTSA #99V327000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported November 22, 1999 · MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 4,402 vehicles

Owners notified January 18, 2000 · Vehicles built June 1, 1996 – July 31, 1997 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CORROSION OF THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION FILAMENT OF THE AIR BAG GAS GENERATOR MODULE CAN OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN AREAS OF FREQUENTLY HIGH HUMIDITY.

Safety consequence

CORROSION OF THE IGNITION FILAMENT CAN RESULT IN THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG BEING DEPLOYED UNINTENTIONALLY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 18,2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Mercedes Benz SL500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

9 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Mercedes Benz SL500.

Air Bags; Seat Belts

ODI #11301461

Incident: January 19, 2020 · Filed: January 23, 2020

VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 209K MILES. SUNDAY 1/19/20 DRIVING WB ON MONTAUK HIGHWAY (NYS 27A?) AT QUOGUE NY. SPEED APPROX. 35-40 MPH. SLIGHT TURN/BEND IN ROAD TO THE RIGHT. SUNNY, DRY PAVEMENT. NO OTHER CARS FOLLOWING OR AHEAD, EITHER DIRECTION. VERY LOUD BANG HEARD INSIDE CABIN, BOTH SEATBELTS IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENED AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FELT STRONG AIR BLAST; THAT EACH DESCRIBED AS BEING HIT IN CHEST. SOUND/AIRBLAST FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A BURNING/GUNPOWDER SMELL AND SLIGHT WHITE SMOKE IN CABIN. SRS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD WENT ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND OBSERVED NO OBJECTS IN ROAD BEHIND VEHICLE. ALSO, NO POTHOLES OR ROAD DEFECTS, ONLY SMOOTH PAVEMENT. NO DAMAGE TO FRONT OR SIDE OF VEHICLE OBSERVED. PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTED BUT LOCKED. DRIVER'S SEATBELT RETRACTED AND FUNCTIONED AFTER INCIDENT. ASSUMED BOTH AIRBAGS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER ) ACTIVATED BUT DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME WITH SRS LIGHT AND NON WORKING PASSENGER SEATBELT. MB DEALER SERVICE DEPT. (HUNTINGTON MB) DENIES THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED (AIRBAG ACTIVATION AND/OR NO DEPLOYMENT). SAYS PROBABLY SEATBELT.

Steering; Engine

ODI #10522165

Incident: June 12, 2013 · Filed: June 27, 2013

WIRING INSULATION FOR LIGHTS AND POWER STEERING DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING MASSIVE SHORTS IN MULTIPLE SYSTEMS, DRAINING THE BATTERY AND RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I MANEUVERED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ONTO AN OFF RAMP THAT PROVIDED A SAFE EXIT FROM THE 6 LANE BELTWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, POWER STEERING, HALF OF THE INSTRUMENTS (INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER), BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM ARE INOPERABLE DUE TO BARE WIRES SHORTING OUT THE WIRING HARNESSES. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS BEGINS WITH REPLACING THE LIGHTING WIRING HARNESS AT A COST OF $4000, WITH NO GUESS AS TO WHAT THE FINAL COSTS MIGHT BE, PROVIDED THEY CAN FIND A WIRING HARNESS. THE SHOP HAS SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH MERCEDES OF THIS VINTAGE AND IS AWARE THAT MERCEDES HAS NOT PROVIDED A VOLUNTARY RECALL TO DEAL WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10411530

Crash 1 injury

Incident: March 28, 2011 · Filed: July 8, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED UP TO 70 MPH AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUFFERED BROKEN RIBS AND A SHATTERED SPINE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO TREAT THE INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10189295

Fire

Incident: January 27, 2007 · Filed: April 30, 2007

I HAD A WIRING HARNESS FIRE IN MY VEHICLE A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500, IT IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WIRE HARNESS BUT MERCEDES BENZ IS DECLINING ANY INVOLVEMENT, I KNOW OF 129 OTHER FAILURES IN LIKE VEHICLES, IT'S COSTING ME $10,000 TO FIX AND I WILL NOT HAVE MY CAR BACK UNTIL JULY 2007. THIS NEEDS TO STOP MERCEDES IS DEINYING ALL INVOLVMENT.*AK

Air Bags

ODI #10131538

Crash 3 injuries

Incident: January 19, 2002 · Filed: August 4, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A 1997 MERCEDES SL-500 IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK (T-BONED) ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT OTHER VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. THERE WAS A RECALL TO HAVE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG REPLACED. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE THIS RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT INTENDED TO DEPLOY IN THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT. *AK

Air Bags

ODI #10103740

Incident: December 7, 2004 · Filed: January 5, 2005

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AND THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, AND WAS TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE HIT SOMETHING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT. *AK *NM

Power Train

ODI #10024364

Filed: June 18, 2003

WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED, THEY BECAME STUCK. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #8012243

Incident: June 2, 2002 · Filed: June 20, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-50 MPH AND TRYING TO SLOW DOWN CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

Structure

ODI #898611

Incident: January 31, 2001 · Filed: October 31, 2001

WHENEVER VEHICLE RUNS OVER A BUMPS OR A POTHOLE, IT CAUSES DOOR LOCKS TO POP OPEN. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND PROBLEM STILL CCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Other Mercedes Benz SL500 model years

Check your 1997 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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