1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 18%of 22 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 63,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500, 18% of the 22 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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“Took my car in for service as it wasn't running properly (computer codes, stalling, etc) found out that in 1995 the mercedes benz company put biodegradable wiring. Had to send to germany for a new wiring harness ($1500) may have to purchase the other wiring harness in the near future ($3000). What kind of car company puts biodegradable wiring in their cars?? A mercedes is known to last up to several hundred thousand miles, but not when the wiring starts disintegrating!! …”
NHTSA complaint #10479888, filed 2012-10, 63,000 milesEngine: other model years
Other parts of the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500
18 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology