NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz 500SL

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mercedes-Benz 500SL.

Complaints

191

Active records

Recalls

11

Active records

TSBs

71

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

3

Injuries

10

Crashes

8

Fires

10

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz 500SL

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

76

Engine behavior

44

Operating state

34

Electrical issue

27

Reporting mechanism

18

Performance issue

16

Safety restraint issue

15

Safety restraint behavior

14

Thermal issue

13

Braking behavior

12

Noise

10

Driver assistance issue

9

Ride/handling behavior

9

Access/entry issue

8

Fluid issue

6

Starting behavior

6

HVAC behavior

5

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

5

Powering on/off behavior

4

Lighting behavior

3

Infotainment behavior

2

Smell

2

Vibration/harshness

2

Steering behavior

1

Wiper/washer behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500

Filed Feb 13, 2016


WIRE HARNESS DEFECT CAUSING SHORT IN SYSTEM SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER CUTTING OTHER DRIVERS OFF JUST TO GET VEHICLE IN A SAFE AND SECURED LOCATION.

2003 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed May 31, 2014


THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT EXTEND OUT AND DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING HOT WEATHER. *TR

2003 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed May 31, 2014


IN JUNE 2012 THE CAR DID NOT PASS INSPECTION AND WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED A NEW GAS CAP. WE GOT A GAS CAP AND IT PASSED INSPECTION. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED COMPLETELY. IF WE ONLY FILL THE GAS TANK ABOUT 3/4 OR LESS, THERE IS NO GAS SMELL. WE RECENTLY HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THE MECHANIC TOLD US THE GAS CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND A SEAL/CAP IN AN OVERFILL TANK UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS LOOSE. WE REPLACED THE GAS CAP AGAIN AND THE CAP TO THE…

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL

Filed May 13, 2014


IGNITION SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES OVER DAYS WHILE DRIVING CUTTING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL RADIO, BRAKES STEERING ETC HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE 2004 OR 2005 WITH BATTERY SUDDENLY BEING DEAD BOTH ACCESSORY BATTERY IN TRUNK AND STARTING BATTERY AND HAS HAD MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON VARIOUS PARTS AND COMPUTERS THAT WERE SAID TO BE DRAWING DOWN THE BATTERY, ABOUT A YEAR AGO CONTACTED PRESIDENT OF MB NORTH AMERICA AND GOT NO HELP FROM CUSTOMER REP THEN LAST MONTH CAR LEFT ME IN…

2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL

Filed Apr 5, 2014


I WAS DRIVING A 2006 SL65. THE CAR HAD AN ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THUS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS CONNECTED TO A SENSOR WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO A PUMP WHICH TURNED THE BRAKES ON. SOMETHING FAILED. THERE WERE NO BRAKES! LUCKILY I DID NOT CRASH DESPITE BEING ON A CHICAGO CITY STREET. I WAS PROBABLY ON THE ONLY STREET WHERE I WOULD NOT HAVE CRASHED. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL ON OLDER SLS FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REMEDIED BUT THIS SHOULD BE A NEVER EVENT. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I…

2003 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed Apr 3, 2014


WAS GOING DOWN ROAD AND FRONT STRUT BOTTOMED OUT BECAUSE OF AIR BELLOW FAILURE IN AIR LEVELING SYSTEM .MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM! *TR

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL CLASS

Filed Nov 20, 2013


MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. SHE WAS ON A BACK ROAD AND HAD TO BRAKE FOR A STOP SIGN. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TO AVOID REAR ENDING A CAR STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN, AND FINALLY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE BRAKES STARTED TO WORK WITH ABOUT 1 OF PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR. SHE SAID IT WAS SO HARD TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL THAT SHE COULD BARELY DO IT. LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT HURT. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR ROAD OR HIGHWAY …

1995 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed Apr 22, 2013


DETERIORATED ENGINE HARNESS WIRING CAUSING FORCED LIMP MODE AND OTHER GREMLINS. *TR

2003 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed Apr 11, 2013


BROUGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION STICKER, WAS TOLD THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MALFUNCTION THAT ALLOWED GAS VAPORS TO ESCAPE FROM TANK. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NO FAULT OF MY OWN BUT TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED TO PASS INSPECTION!!! THE CAR WAS NOT MISUSED OR DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR ABUSED, OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART MERCEDES PUT IN THEIR CARS AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. CHARGED $1,400 FOR REPAIRS. *TR

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL

Filed Dec 14, 2012


I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY ABC LIGHT VISIT WORKSHOP LIGHT CAME ON. OK, THAT'S FINE I'LL TAKE IT TO THE SHOP TOMORROW. WHILE ON MY WAY HOME MY CAR SUDDENLY DROPS IN HEIGHT AND A WARNING SIGN CAME ON SAYING STOP DRIVING, CAR TOO LOW. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT MY CAR HAD MAYBE AN INCH OF CLEARANCE IN THE FRONT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF IT FEEL ANY LOWER I WOULD BE DEAD DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND LEFT IT THERE AND WAITED…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.