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Mercedes-Benz SL500Model year report

1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Problems

Complaints
22filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
97,500miles, 18 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.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 5.0L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The part named most often is electrical system, with 18 complaints (82% of the total), followed by engine (4) and fuel system (3). 18 of the complaints include a mileage, and 17% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 97,500 miles. Of all complaints, 3 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 13 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 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.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “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 miles

Engine: “This vehicle has a bio-degradable engine wiring harness. These harnesses are deteriorating. My vehicle suddenly lost all power, no power steering, no nothing on a freeway and I was lucky that I was not killed. Mercedes and the dealerships both know that vehicles with this type harness are death traps. I wonder how many people have already been killed, but wiring harness was never investigated as cause of accident. Why are you not taking action against mercedes? Every vehicle still on the road should be recalled immediately if it has a bio-degradable wiring harness.”

NHTSA complaint #10513085, filed 2013-05, 103,000 miles

Fuel system: “Was driving car and engine started to misfire, stumble and lose power as I was crossing traffic into a side road. Almost was hit from the passenger side by a large truck that was moving at me at over 50mph. I had left plenty of time/space to do this crossing properly. However, the car almost stalled out mid way across and I could not accelerate properly to get out of the way in a timely manner.. Engine got slight surge just in time to avoid a collision. I managed to get the car to limp home. Started it up a few later and ran fine as I carefully drove it to the dealer for evaluation. …”

NHTSA complaint #10511697, filed 2013-05, 43,890 miles

Other or unknown: “91-96 mercedes engine wire harness disintegrates completely to shorting out all gauges and engine operations. This is very dangerous... Deadly dangerous . This needs to be addressed and recalled immediately. We are putting together a mass group to file a class action lawsuit against the NHTSA for not demanding mercedes to implement a recall on its deadly mistake. ( we have not lost a class action lawsuit today from 1989... Thank you in advance.”

NHTSA complaint #11016263, filed 2017-08, 1,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

17% of the 18 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 55,000 and 119,750 miles.

6%0–100%10–2511%25–5022%50–7511%75–10050%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (18 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 97,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’06’084’10’13’15’17’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
SL500 RWD5.0L 8-cyl4-speed automatic152016$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 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. 13 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 13 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz SL500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20061354,0000—17—Not enough data
20051940,2820—17—Falling
20044575,0000—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20038062,8590—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1998645,0000—17—Not enough data
19979122,0001—16—Not enough data
1996685,0000—17—Not enough data
19952297,5000—16—Stable
1994890,0000—16—Not enough data
1993666,0000———Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz SL500 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 have?

NHTSA recorded 22 consumer complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 18 complaints (82% of the total), followed by engine with 4.

Has the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 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.

What gas mileage does the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 get?

The EPA rates the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 (SL500, 5.0L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 15 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 reported?

Among the 18 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 97,500 miles and the middle half falls between 55,000 and 119,750 miles; 17% 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. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.