NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 Mercedes Benz SL500 Recalls & Complaints

The 1999 Mercedes Benz SL500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 2 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 1999 Mercedes Benz SL500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1999 Mercedes Benz SL500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Mercedes Benz SL500, describing incidents dated June 1, 2004 to January 22, 2020.

Most-cited components

Power Train 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Of the 2 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11301292 · Filed January 23, 2020
SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION FOUND A PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM HOOD WEDGED BETWEEN BODY OF VEHICLE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MATERIAL CAUGHT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IDLING.
ODI #10161078 · Filed June 29, 2006
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVETRAIN IS LEAPING AS THE CAR STARTS AND AS YOU START TO SHIFT. NO ACCIDENTS THAT LED UP TO THIS AND THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT SEVERAL (UNKNOWN QUANITY) TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN SEEMS TO BE SENDING POWER FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR TOO QUICKLY AND THIS COULD…

Read all 2 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 1999 Mercedes Benz SL500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Mercedes Benz SL500.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11301292

Fire

Incident: January 22, 2020 · Filed: January 23, 2020

SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION FOUND A PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM HOOD WEDGED BETWEEN BODY OF VEHICLE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MATERIAL CAUGHT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IDLING.

Power Train

ODI #10161078

Incident: June 1, 2004 · Filed: June 29, 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVETRAIN IS LEAPING AS THE CAR STARTS AND AS YOU START TO SHIFT. NO ACCIDENTS THAT LED UP TO THIS AND THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT SEVERAL (UNKNOWN QUANITY) TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN SEEMS TO BE SENDING POWER FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR TOO QUICKLY AND THIS COULD LEAD TO FUTURE FAILURES AND A SAFETY RISK.

Other Mercedes Benz SL500 model years

Check your 1999 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.

Check a Mercedes Benz VIN