Mercedes-Benz SL500 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 214 consumer complaints across the 10 model years of the Mercedes-Benz SL500 (1993–2006) that have at least 5 complaints. 2003 has the most, with 80. Across all years, the part named most often is suspension (61 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All SL500 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 13 | 54,000 | 0 | 59 | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 19 | 40,282 | 0 | 59 | — | Falling |
| 2004 | 45 | 75,000 | 0 | 51 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 80 | 62,859 | 0 | 48 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 6 | 45,000 | 0 | 15 | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 9 | 122,000 | 1 | 15 | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 6 | 85,000 | 0 | 15 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 22 | 97,500 | 0 | 13 | — | Stable |
| 1994 | 8 | 90,000 | 0 | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 1993 | 6 | 66,000 | 0 | 13 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Suspension61 26%
- Electrical system55 23%
- Brakes40 17%
- Fuel system36 15%
- Air bags13 5.5%
- Transmission and drivetrain12 5.1%
- Steering10 4.2%
- Engine10 4.2%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1995: “I have 1995 SL500 last 8 years having electrical issues, related to wiring harness ,misfire ,steering pump,air pump and more. I am the first owner.all the wires are deteriorating,I thnik we need NHTSA to inspect these car manufacturers.if manufacturer installed the faulty wiring they should stand up and offer repairs at the mercedes dealers.free. Regards”
NHTSA complaint #10966708, filed 2017-03, 145,000 miles1993: “My 1993 mer benz ffirst started to lose its power kinda like limp mode cuz the RPM wouldnt go past 2,000 until one day it started smoking really bad thru the vents and from under the hood until the car turned off and hasnt turned back on since I had the car towed to a local. Shop where I was informed about the fire the wiring harness had started due to the wires losing its insulation”
NHTSA complaint #11093439, filed 2018-05, 50 miles1994: “Engine compartment fire near drivers firewall. Fire was extinguished however strong fuel vapors remained. Origin of fire unknown. I submitted a report for my 1999 mercedes which caught fire from the hood insulation falling onto the hot manifold in the same general area.”
NHTSA complaint #11301295, filed 2020-01, 194,000 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