NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz 500SL

Data refreshed October 26, 2026

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

Complaints

69

Active records

Recalls

5

Active records

TSBs

11

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

2

Injuries

3

Crashes

0

Fires

4

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz 500SL

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

40

Engine behavior

23

Operating state

16

Electrical issue

13

Performance issue

8

Reporting mechanism

7

Braking behavior

4

Safety restraint issue

4

Thermal issue

4

Driver assistance issue

3

Safety restraint behavior

3

Fluid issue

2

Noise

2

Powering on/off behavior

2

Access/entry issue

1

HVAC behavior

1

Starting behavior

1

Steering behavior

1

Transmission/drivetrain 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.

1993 MERCEDES BENZ MERCEDES BENZ

Filed May 16, 2013


Fire

THE ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 300E 156000 MILES), HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT-CIRCUIT WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION--AND EVEN FIRE--INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES THAT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL. *TR

1993 MERCEDES BENZ MERCEDES BENZ

Filed Nov 25, 2012


MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WENT BAD , COZE OF WIRING HARNESS .. *TR

1991 MERCEDES BENZ 129

Filed Nov 7, 2012


PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED ON. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE DEPLOYMENT. *TR

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed Jan 9, 2012


ENGINE LIGHT ON DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INSULATION CRACKED ALL THROUGHOUT HARNESS. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT!! *TR

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 129

Filed Oct 30, 2011


1993 MERCEDES BENZ SL600 WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. INSULATION ON WIRING BECAME BRITTLE AND TURNED TO DUST. SHORTS IN WIRING LEAD TO TROUBLE LIGHTS COMING ON. ENGINE MISFIRES AND SHUTS OFF. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed May 27, 2011


Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND CAUSED SEVERAL WIRES TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

1993 MERCEDES BENZ SL SERIES

Filed Dec 10, 2010


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR, WIRING HARNESS AND ECU. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

1990 MERCEDES BENZ 500SL

Filed Jul 21, 2010


PIRELLI TIRES (4) BOUGHT 6/13/10. MY LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A THREE LANE HIGHWAY ON 7/21/10 (38 DAYS LATER). LUCKILY I WAS ON IN THE RIGHT LANE AND BARELY MADE IT TO AN EXIT LANE. THE TIRE IS PIRELLI FOUR SEASONS P6. 225/55R15 I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE BOUGHT FROM MR. TIRE IN ANNAPOLIS. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES. THE POLICEMAN CAME BY AND TOLD ME TO GET MY CAR OFF THE EXIT--HE DID NOT EVEN GET OUT OF HIS CAR TO SEE IF I WAS…

1991 MERCEDES BENZ 500SL

Filed Oct 29, 2009


ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE, MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AFFECTED. CAR WILL SPUTTER, STALL, NOT RESTART. HAPPENS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, TURNING CORNERS, COMING TO A STOP, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP.... THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BARE WIRES ALL OVER THE PLACE. MB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS, ALTHOUGH I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY MERCEDES OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. CALLS TO MERCEDES BENZ NEVER GET ME ANYWHERE. THEY ARE RUDE AND ONLY…

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

Updated October 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.