Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1999 Mercedes Benz SL500

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other1
010
Power Train1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Wheels06E014000
Filed Feb 6, 200631,422 vehiclesZf Trading North America, Llc

Defect. CERTAIN ZF TRADING NORTH AMERICA AFTERMARKET WHEEL BEARING KITS, LEMFOERDER P/N 1402301, SOLD FOR INSTALLATION ON 1992-2001 MERCEDES BENZ SL500 (R129) VEHICLES AFTER APRIL 1, 2005. THE CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS USED IN THE WHEEL BEARING KIT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, SHEAR OFF AND BREAK. IF BOTH CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS BREAK, THE BRAKE CALIPER MAY BECOME UNFIXED AND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKED, THE BRAKE ROTOR COULD DRAG THE CALIPER, CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE TO RUPTURE AND THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED.

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. ZF TRADING WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND REPAIR THE WHEEL BEARING KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 27, 2006.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Jan 23, 2020157,000 milesCA

SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION FOUND A PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM HOOD WEDGED BETWEEN BODY OF VEHICLE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MATERIAL CAUGHT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IDLING.

Power Train
Filed Jun 29, 200625,000 milesMO

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVETRAIN IS LEAPING AS THE CAR STARTS AND AS YOU START TO SHIFT. NO ACCIDENTS THAT LED UP TO THIS AND THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT SEVERAL (UNKNOWN QUANITY) TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN SEEMS TO BE SENDING POWER FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR TOO QUICKLY AND THIS COULD LEAD TO FUTURE FAILURES AND A SAFETY RISK.

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20092000Routine
200613000Routine
200519020Routine
200445031Fatalities reported
200380030Routine
20013100Routine
20002100Routine
1999 — this page2110Routine
19986100Routine
19979210Routine
19966110Routine
199522130Routine
19948120Routine
19936110Routine
19922100Routine

Compare every SL500 year →

Other Mercedes Benz models

All Mercedes Benz models →
C300 3,958E350 2,210E320 1,164ML350 951GLK350 904ML320 742C250 725C230 657GLC 300 650E500 460

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 6, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.