30 of the
57 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz SL
are about the electrical system —
53% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1994.
IGNITION SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES OVER DAYS WHILE DRIVING CUTTING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL RADIO, BRAKES STEERING ETC HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE 2004 OR 2005 WITH BATTERY SUDDENLY BEING DEAD BOTH ACCESSORY BATTERY IN TRUNK AND STARTING BATTERY AND HAS HAD MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON VARIOUS PARTS AND COMPUTERS THAT WERE SAID TO BE DRAWING DOWN THE BATTERY, ABOUT A YEAR AGO CONTACTED PRESIDENT OF MB NORTH AMERICA AND GOT NO HELP FROM CUSTOMER REP THEN LAST MONTH CAR LEFT ME IN INTERSECTION ONE TIME AND IN EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCE LANE ANOTHER TOTALLY SHUT DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL POWER BRAKES STEERING RADIO LIGHTS ETC AND LUCKILY WASN'T KILLED ALTHOUGH DRIVERS SKIDDED AND BLEW HORN ETC. CAR THEN WOULD THEN CRANK AND FLASH RED EMERGENCY TAKE TO SHOP MESSAGE GOT IT CRANKED AND LIMPED HOME PICKED UP BY DEALER WHO COULD NOT GET IT TO CRANK OR TURN ON ANYTHING ELECTRICAL DEAD AND THEY TOWED OFF BLAMED PROBLEM IN IGNITION KEY ASSEMBLY AND I CALLED PRESIDENT OF MB AGAIN NO HELP BILL OVER 2K HAVE LEARNED FROM COMMUNITY MB SHOP "EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE 03 AND 04 SL 500 HAD THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BUT MB HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED IT. I AM SURE I WOULD HAVE HAD ACCIDENT IF OTHER DRIVERS HAD NOT BEEN ALERT. THERE MUST BE SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THIS ELECTRICAL DEFECT IF THE MECHANIC IN THE COMMUNITY KNOWS OF IT. SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE GM IGNITION PROBLEM ONLY FEWERESL500S THAN GM CARS I WOULD THINK.
NHTSA complaint #10588129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING A 2006 SL65. THE CAR HAD AN ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THUS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS CONNECTED TO A SENSOR WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO A PUMP WHICH TURNED THE BRAKES ON. SOMETHING FAILED. THERE WERE NO BRAKES! LUCKILY I DID NOT CRASH DESPITE BEING ON A CHICAGO CITY STREET. I WAS PROBABLY ON THE ONLY STREET WHERE I WOULD NOT HAVE CRASHED. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL ON OLDER SLS FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REMEDIED BUT THIS SHOULD BE A NEVER EVENT. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I GOT RID OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND THE DEALER BOUGHT IT BACK, BUT THE CAR WAS SOLD AGAIN. IT IS A LOW VOLUME CAR AND THERE MIGHT BE CRASHES OR FATALITIES.
NHTSA complaint #10577552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE INHERANT FLAWS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY AND ROADWORTHINESS OF THIS AUTOMOBILE INCLUDED HERIN AS ABSERVED BY ME IN MY OWNERSHIP. I HAD REPLACED THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD INSULATION ON THE WIRES THAT LITTERALLY TURNED TO DUST! THESE WIRES WERE FREE TO ARC ON EACHOTHER CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION(THIS CAR IS EQUIPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER IMPUT), FINALLY FAILED THROTTLE RESPONSE! ALL OF THESE INSTANCES CAN, AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SAFETY ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, AND CERTAINLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THESE ISSUES HAVING NARROWLY ESCAPED MANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS (THANKFULLY OTHER CARS HAVE RELIABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS). (THAT WAS THE FIRST HARNESS REPLACED). THE SECOND HARNESS TO FAIL ON ME WAS THE STARTER HARNESS, AGAIN ALL OF THE INSULATION LITERALLY CRUMBLED TO DUST AND LEFT BARE UNFUSED HOT WIRES EXPOSED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A BATTERY EXPLOSION, ARCING ETC... THE THIRD HARNESS THAT I HAVE JUST BEEN MADE AWARE IS YET AGAIN FAILED IS THE AIR FLOW METER HARNESS AS DIAGNOSED BY MERCEDES BENZ OF CINCINNATI. AGAIN THESE WIRES ARE BARE AND I COULD PHYSICALLY SEE THE WIRES ARCING, WHICH RESULTED IN MANY DRIVEABILITY ISSUES, INCLUDING LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I REALLY TRUELY AM AMAZED THAT THIS CAR HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE YET! THE FINAL FLAW IS THE STARTER IS LOCATED LITERALLY INCHES FROM THE FUEL VAPOR CHARCOAL CANISTER, IT LITERALLY PURGES FUEL VAPOR DIRECTLY ONTO THE STARTER! ON MANY CASES THE CAR HAD A FUEL SMELL WHILE WALKING TO THE CAR, I WOULD THEN TURN THE KEY WITH A HUGE BRIEF EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF THE ENGINE BAY. IT PUZZLES ME HOW MERCEDES HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH A SAFE AUTOMOBILE. I WOULD BE HAPPIER WITH A BLOWN ENGINE!!!
NHTSA complaint #10456069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ MODEL SL600. SHORTLY AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT THE ASR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SO I STARTED TO RESEARCH WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I FOUND AN ONLINE WEBSITE WHICH HAD SEVERAL ARTICLES ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CAUSES. THE WEBSITE RECOMMENDED THAT THE WIRING SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR CRACKING AND DETERIORATION OF THE INSULATION. UPON INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THAT THE INSULATION ON MUCH OF THE WIRING GOING TO THE MASS AIR FLOW COMPONENTS AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATORS WAS CRACKED AND FALLING OFF THE WIRES LEAVING ONLY BARE WIRES WHICH ARE IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. I ALSO FOUND THAT THIS IS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO MERCEDES BENZ AND HAS BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT THEY HAVE NOT ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THE PROBLEM IS COMPLETELY PREVENTING ME FROM USING THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT DUE TO THE HIGH POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE FIRE CAUSED BY THE WIRES SHORT CIRCUITING AND ALSO THE PROBABILITY OF DOING DAMAGE TO THE CONTROL MODULES AND COMPUTERS WHICH ARE VERY EXPENSIVE RO REPLACE.
NHTSA complaint #10394462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1995 SL600 WITH COMPLETELY ERODED ENGINE WIRE HARNESS. ALMOST ALL THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES ARE GONE LEAVING BARE WIRES. THIS IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS FOR A 100K CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10379595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ SL600 (VIN [XXX])WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING WHICH HAS INSULATION WHICH DEGRADES OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES MANY PROBLEMS, THE MOST SERIOUS IN MY CASE BEING A DECELERATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TOO FAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN DEFECT IN MANY MERCEDES BUILT BETWEEN 1991 AND 1997. MERCEDES REFUSES TO FIX THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I HAVE HAD THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $2000.00, I AM AWAITING INFORMATION ON OTHER REPAIRS CAUSED BY THE FAULTY WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10356988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT A NEW MB 1995 SL320, ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER I HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT AND WAS TOLD ITS THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS WHICH WAS REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME, HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR ( IDLE AND HESITATION AND BAD SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST ) FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY I SAW IT , THE WIRES HAVE DISINTEGRATED INSIDE THE SLEEVES ALL WIRE ARE TOUCHING, SOME WIRE HAVE NO INSULATION AT ALL JUST A COPPER WIRE, THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEN YOU SEE THEIR COMMERCIALS BUILT LIKE NO OTHER CAR. ITS GONNA COST MORE MONEY TO FIX THE CAR THAT THE CAR IS WORTH, I THINK MB SHOULD HAVE A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM FREE, OR THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10348130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ SL600 (VIN [XXX])WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING WHICH HAS INSULATION WHICH DEGRADES OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES MANY PROBLEMS, THE MOST SERIOUS IN MY CASE BEING A DECELERATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TOO FAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN DEFECT IN MANY MERCEDES BUILT BETWEEN 1991 AND 1997. MERCEDES REFUSES TO FIX THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10321332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE COMPLETE ENGINE HARNESS IS BEING REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10262159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 1994 SL 600 MERCEDES BENZ. AFTER PAYING 17,000 DOLLARS FOR THE CAR, I RECENTLY NOTICED THE CAR STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN TRAFFIC. MAJOR CONCERN WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLS WITH EVERYONE BLOWING THEIR HORNS AND I AM DRIVING A 135K DOLLAR CAR. IT FINALLY BREAKS DOWN AND I HAVE IT TOWED TO TONY'S FOREIGN CAR IN WILMINGTON, NC FOR ASSESSMENT. THEY INFORM ME THAT IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE AND SHOWED ME THE DECOMPOSITION OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING. THEY TELL ME IT IS A COMMON FAILURE OF THE 94 TO 97 YEAR MODELS OF MERCEDES AND ALSO LET ME KNOW THAT I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NOT FIRE BECAUSE IT WAS WIRING TO WIRING CONTACT (FIRE HAZARD). THEY ALSO INFORM ME THAT I AM LOOKING AT A LARGE BILL TO REPAIR ($3000.00) BECAUSE SOME OTHER WIRING IS DISINTEGRATED. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. MERCEDES SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A FACTORY RECALL AND NOT ASKED BECAUSE OF THE COMMON FAILURE, SAFETY AND EXPENSE TO OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint #10218634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, CRACKED, CRUMBLED INSULATION, EXPOSING BARE WIRES AND SHORTING ASR, TRACTION CONTROL, FUEL INJECTION THROTTLE VALVE, AC NOT WORKING. THE I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND MANY HOURS ONLY TO FIND OEM WIRE IS DEFECTIVE! THE MB DEALER WANTS $ 6,000 FOR ONLY 1) SIDE OF THROTTLE VALVE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AND THE CAR HAS 2). AND THE THROTTLE VALVE IS NOT THE PROBLEM THE DEFECTIVE WIRING IS THE PROBLEM! ITS PLAIN TO SEE THAT NOTHING CAN FUNCTION PROPERLY IF BARE WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM! THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, ALL WIRES IN THE ENGINE HARNESS ARE BAD!!!
NHTSA complaint #10205907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.