1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Problems
- Complaints
- 12filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 25,094miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class. The part named most often is brakes, with 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by equipment (3) and fuel system (3). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 25,094 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes3 25%
- Equipment3 25%
- Fuel system3 25%
- Suspension2 17%
- Exterior lighting1 8.3%
- Body and structure1 8.3%
- Tires1 8.3%
Example complaints
Brakes: “The brake system vacuum booster did not hold the vacuum and caused a hissing noise when the brakes were applied. The brake warning light never illuminated to indicate a problem. The consumer requested a refund for a portion of the repair cost. Ph”
NHTSA complaint #10011478, filed 2003-03, 24,870 milesSuspension: “Purchased 1998 mercedes benz sl 600 from mbz san francisco dealership on 4/22/09. Immediately reported excessive and dangerous bouncing of front end. Reported defect dealer took no action. Took car to mbz of oakland where they diagnosed bad front suspension pressure cells which clearly existed at time of sale. Oakland mbz comped diagnostic. Have made several attempts to have sf mbz correct problem, but they want me to pay for the work and have ignored my letters.”
NHTSA complaint #10272355, filed 2009-05, 25,319 milesMileage when problems were reported
100% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 24,870 and 25,319 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.
- 10030939Jul 31, 2009Brakes. Mercedes: parktronic intermittently not functioning. The function works again after a short time or distance. When the foot operated parking brake is applied, the parktronic system is deactivated…
- 10030941Jul 6, 2009Electrical system. Mercedes: cracking noise from the area of the instrument panel/firewall when cornering, during throttle lift off and on uneven roads. Stress at the spot welds on the firewall to the right of the…
- 10030929Jun 15, 2009Brakes. Mercedes: corrosion protection coatings for brake components and hardware may be damaged and or stripped away if highly concentrated acid based cleaners are used. Once the corrosion protection is…
- 10030964Jun 5, 2009Brakes, Other or unknown. Mercedes: the limited warranty on the sbc hydraulic unit for models 211, model 219 and models 230 was extended from the original 4 years/50,000 miles to 10 years with no mileage limitation. The sbc…
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz SL Class
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 | 14,000 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 12 | 25,094 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Mercedes-Benz SL Class model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class have?
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by equipment with 3.
Has the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 25,094 miles and the middle half falls between 24,870 and 25,319 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.