1996 Mercedes Benz SL500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other SL500 years
- Not enough data 7th of 12 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500. That ranks 7th out of 12 SL500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints, 50%), typically at around 72,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 6owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500 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 | 3 | 50% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 33% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 17% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 17% | 112,024 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Mercedes Benz SL500 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mercedes benz sl500. While driving approximately 40 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact pulled over, lifted up the hood, and noticed fire coming from the engine…
1996 mercedes benz sl 500 engine stall when drive on highway due to faulty wiring harness. *jb
While driving, the consumer smelled a burning odor, then smoke started coming from the interior rearview mirror. *ak the faulty device was due to a transistor that had gone bad on the electric board on the inside of the reaview mirror. *sc *jb
Sudden acceleration caused a crash into the rear wall of my garage.*ak
Fuel line leakage at fuel pump-second occurance. Dt
Other Mercedes Benz SL500 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 SL500 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 SL500 | 13 | 0 |
| 2005 SL500 | 19 | 0 |
| 2004 SL500 | 45 | 0 |
| 2003 SL500 | 80 | 0 |
| 2001 SL500 | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 SL500 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 SL500 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 SL500 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 SL500 | 9 | 1 |
| 1996 | 6 | 0 |
| 1995 SL500 | 22 | 0 |
See all Mercedes Benz SL500 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 SL500?
Owners most often report electrical system, visibility, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SL500 model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.