1996 Mercedes Benz SL Class Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL Class years
- Not enough data 4th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL Class. That ranks 4th out of 11 SL Class model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 50%). There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Mercedes Benz SL Class problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 50% | 55,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Mercedes Benz SL Class recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility
Problem: If one of the headlamp wiper arms becomes misaligned, the wiper balde can lodge in the groove under the headlamp. If the washers are activated with the wiper blade in the misaligned and lodged position, the washer pump will run continuously expelling all available fluid.
Risk: Pump operation in the absence of fluid can cause the pump to overheat and cause a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the headlamp washer pump on these vehicles.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: The drive belt pulley on the engine can develop fatigue cracks in the metal and break. If the drive pulley breaks, the car would not have engine cooling, battery charging, and/or power steering.
Risk: Loss of these systems can cause the car to over heat, lose power from the battery, and loss of control of the car increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine crankshaft damper-pulley on these vehicles.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My 1996 mercedes sl600 failed emissions testing because the obdii system check reported 5 monitors were "not ready". After great expense attempting to fix the problems indicated by this output, i discovered through internet searches and communications with illinois epa that this is a known problem…
1996 mercedes benz sl 600 wiring harness failure authorized dealer reports that this is a typical failure of an older mercedes with only 60,000 miles. This failure is know through out the industry but it has never been recognized by mb consequently no recall. The car runs sluggishly and i have been…
Other Mercedes Benz SL Class years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 SL Class | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 SL Class | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 SL Class | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 SL Class | 2 | 1 |
| 2004 SL Class | 3 | 3 |
| 2003 SL Class | 9 | 3 |
| 2002 SL Class | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 SL Class | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 SL Class | 12 | 0 |
| 1997 SL Class | 2 | 1 |
| 1996 | 2 | 2 |
See all Mercedes Benz SL Class problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL Class?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL Class?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL Class a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL Class model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.