Mercedes-Benz 500SL Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints across the 1 model years of the Mercedes-Benz 500SL (1992–1992) that have at least 5 complaints. 1992 has the most, with 5. Across all years, the part named most often is tires (2 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All 500SL model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 5 | 85,206 | 1 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Tires2 40%
- Seats1 20%
- Electrical system1 20%
- Brakes1 20%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1992: “Upon disassembly of the intake system of my car, it was discovered that the wiring harness had completely disintegrated - the insulation used on the wiring had become hard and brittle, causing multiple shorts and preventing it from being re-installed in the vehicle. The entire engine harness had to be replaced to correct the problem. Total cost approximately $1100.”
NHTSA complaint #10143261, filed 2005-11, 161,500 milesOther Mercedes-Benz models
3,963 complaintsMercedes-Benz E350
2,215 complaintsMercedes-Benz E320
1,164 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML350
952 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLK350
901 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML320
740 complaintsMercedes-Benz C250
725 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLC 300
657 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology