1994 Mercedes-Benz SL Problems
- Complaints
- 15filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 82,560miles, 13 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL. The part named most often is electrical system, with 13 complaints (87% of the total), followed by electronic stability control (2) and brakes (1). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 8% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 82,560 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 3 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin 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.
- Electrical system13 87%
- Brakes1 6.7%
- Engine cooling1 6.7%
- Equipment1 6.7%
- Exterior lighting1 6.7%
- Vehicle speed control1 6.7%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “I have a 1994 600sl mercedes (35,000 miles) with complete break down of all the electrical wire insulation. Upon my investigation I find that every SL has this problem. I would like mercedes to replace all the wiring harnesses including the harness to the throttle bodies.”
NHTSA complaint #10232050, filed 2008-06, 34,500 milesBrakes: “Total electrical failure, engine stoppage, deactivation of ABS, asd, seat belts, electric door locks, lights. When going over a railroad tract, road vibration caused deteriorated wiring insulation (inside a bundle of wires) to fall off causing a massive electrical short circuit. Apparently several model years of these cars were manufactured with wire insulation that 'crumbles' to a powder. This condition is not visible during ordinary inspection and required one to cut open the encapsulated wiring harnesses. …”
NHTSA complaint #10151360, filed 2006-02, 89,003 milesEngine cooling: “Dt: the contact owns a 1994 mercedes benz SL-500. The contact stated while driving the headlights lights illuminated and the vehicle lost power and stalled. The vehicle has been to the dealership several times. The first time they replaced a computer. The contact stated that this did not remedy the problem, and that the dealership will replace something different each time the vehicle has been in for service. The contact stated that this happened on a regular basis, more and more over time. The vehicle has been having this problem for approximately 2-3 years. …”
NHTSA complaint #10135786, filed 2005-09, 69,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
8% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 69,358 and 100,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL 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. 3 on record; the latest 3 are shown.
- 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
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 13 | 72,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 15 | 82,560 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
All Mercedes-Benz SL model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL have?
NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 13 complaints (87% of the total), followed by electronic stability control with 2.
Has the 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL 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 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL reported?
Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 82,560 miles and the middle half falls between 69,358 and 100,000 miles; 8% 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.