1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 44%of 9 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 93,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500, 44% of the 9 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 93,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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.
“Vehicle has approx. 209k miles. Sunday 1/19/20 driving wb on montauk highway (nys 27a?) at quogue ny. Speed approx. 35-40 MPH. Slight turn/bend in road to the right. Sunny, dry pavement. No other cars following or ahead, either direction. Very loud bang heard inside cabin, both seatbelts immediately tightened and both driver and passenger felt strong air blast; that each described as being hit in chest. Sound/airblast followed immediately by a burning/gunpowder smell and slight white smoke in cabin. Srs light on dashboard went on. …”
NHTSA complaint #11301461, filed 2020-01, 209,000 miles“Consumer was driving at approximately 30 MPH, and the air bag on the passenger side inadvertently deployed. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, and the dealer told the consumer that they've never seen anything like this, and was telling the consumer that the vehicle had to have hit something for this to happen. Vehicle was not hit.”
NHTSA complaint #10103740, filed 2005-01, 56,000 miles“Dt: contact stated while driving a 1997 mercedes sl-500 it was involved in an accident where the driver, passenger, and side air bags did not deploy. Consumer was driving approximately 15-20 MPH, when the vehicle was struck (t-boned) on the passenger side door. The impact caused the vehicle to hit other vehicles. The consumer was wearing a seat belt. The air bag light was not illuminated before the accident occurred. The vehicle had not been in any previous accidents. There was a recall to have the driver side air bag replaced. The consumer did have this recall service performed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10131538, filed 2005-08, 40,000 miles“The contact owned a 1997 Mercedes-Benz sl 500. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle hydroplaned up to 70 MPH and crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy and the vehicle was destroyed. As a result, the contact suffered broken ribs and a shattered spine. The contact was wearing the seat belt during the failure. The contact was taken to the hospital to treat the injuries. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10411530, filed 2011-07, 130,000 milesRelated recalls
- 99V327000Nov 22, 1999Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Corrosion of the electrical ignition filament of the air bag gas generator module can occur if the vehicle is…Covers: Mercedes-Benz SL500 1997, SL320 1997, SL Class 1997 +1 more
Air bags: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500
1 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 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