NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Mercedes Benz SL500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 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 1998 Mercedes Benz SL500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1998 Mercedes Benz SL500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mercedes Benz SL500, describing incidents dated August 10, 2010 to October 9, 2019.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 2 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11267711 · Filed October 10, 2019
I HAVE A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ THAT I DO NOT DRIVE OFTEN AND KEEP WELL STORED IN A HEATED GARAGE. I WAS DRIVING IT AND NOTICED THE TIRE WAS LOW. I TOOK IT TO DISCOUNT TIRE, WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY TIRES WERE DOWN TO TREAD WEAR OF 2/32. THESE TIRES, ALTHOUGH PURCHASED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HAVE LESS THAN…
ODI #10949170 · Filed February 2, 2017
CAR WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHEN THICK DARK BLACK SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE FROM THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND DOME LIGHT HOUSING.
ODI #10889168 · Filed July 28, 2016
CAR WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHEN THICK DARK BLACK SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE FROM THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND DOME LIGHT HOUSING.

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 1998 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 1998 Mercedes Benz SL500.

Tires

ODI #11267711

Incident: October 9, 2019 · Filed: October 10, 2019

I HAVE A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ THAT I DO NOT DRIVE OFTEN AND KEEP WELL STORED IN A HEATED GARAGE. I WAS DRIVING IT AND NOTICED THE TIRE WAS LOW. I TOOK IT TO DISCOUNT TIRE, WHO INFORMED ME THAT MY TIRES WERE DOWN TO TREAD WEAR OF 2/32. THESE TIRES, ALTHOUGH PURCHASED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HAVE LESS THAN 11,000 MILES ON THEM. BOTH THE PLACE I PURCHASED THE TIRES AND THE NEW TIRE SHOP REFUSED TO HELP ME PROCESS ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY COMPLAINT.

Electrical System

ODI #10949170

Incident: July 2, 2016 · Filed: February 2, 2017

CAR WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHEN THICK DARK BLACK SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE FROM THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND DOME LIGHT HOUSING.

Electrical System; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #10889168

Incident: July 27, 2016 · Filed: July 28, 2016

CAR WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHEN THICK DARK BLACK SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE FROM THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR AND DOME LIGHT HOUSING.

Service Brakes; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10716917

Incident: May 17, 2015 · Filed: May 17, 2015

DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE DIES. CAR BECOMES DEAD, VERY DANGEROUS , AT NIGHT MIDDLE LANE OF PACIFIC COAST HWY. CANT USE BREAKS, EVERYTHING IS DEAD! CANT STEER NOTHING. COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TWICE. NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN IM ON THE FREEWAY, THATS A PROBLEM, ENDANGERING ME AND EVERYONE AROUND. THIS IS NUTS BECAUSE I PRIDE MYSELF ON KEEPING MY CAR IN TIP TOP SHAPE ALWAYS AND THIS IS UNDETECTABLE . BUT EXPENSIVE TO TRY AND FIND OUT UNTIL I SAW THAT 800 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME THING! WHAT WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Visibility/Wiper

ODI #10667761

Incident: December 1, 2014 · Filed: December 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HEADLAMP WIPER ARM WAS MISALIGNED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WASHER PUMP WOULD RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V175000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Structure

ODI #10352014

Incident: August 10, 2010 · Filed: August 26, 2010

HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS FOR SOFT TOP AND HARD TOP CONVERTIBLE FAILS AND LEAKS. ALL 12 OF THE CYLINDERS FAILS DUE TO HYDRAULIC FLUID CORROSION THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. COSTS 12000(TWELVE THOUSANDS DOLLARS TO FIX). *TR

Other Mercedes Benz SL500 model years

Check your 1998 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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