1995 Mercedes-Benz SL320 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Electrical system

  (XXXX) BIODEGRADING WIRING HARNESS REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

  Mar 6, 2019 · 135,000 miles
• Electrical system

  MY VEHICLE IS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ SL320R AND WAS BUILT WITH BIODEGRADABLE WIRING INSULATION IN THE ENGINE HARNESS. THE INSULATION IS DETERIORATING AND CAUSING PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS 131,000 MILES. I'M THE 3RD OWNER. POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET INDICATE POTENTIALLY FATAL FAILURES ARE POSSIBLE. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE?

  Apr 1, 2017 · 121,000 miles
• Electrical system

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE COMPUTER CLUSTER WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TT

  Sep 1, 2017 · 130,000 miles
• Electrical system

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320R. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC ON THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PEELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF AUGUSTA AT (706) 860-1111 (LOCATED AT 3061 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN AND THERE WOULD BE A FEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE…

  May 15, 2017 · 140,000 miles
• Electrical systemFire

  THE ENGINE BAY WIRING HARNESSES HAVE DISINTEGRATED ON THE CAR DUE TO USE OF HEAT SUSCEPTIBLE WIRE INSULATION. THIS HAS CAUSED BARE WIRES TO SHORT OUT IN THE ENGINE BAY. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPONTANEOUSLY SURGE RESULTING IN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. SUBSEQUENT TO THE SURGING, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE WITH WAS CAUSING THESE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, ELECTRICAL ARCING AND SMOLDERING OF THE WIRING BECAME APPARENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND MB HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT IT. THE REPAIR INVOLVES THE RELATIVELY SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF 4 WIRING HARNESSES IN THE ENGINE BAY. THIS IS A…

  Jul 6, 2016 · 140,000 miles
• Exterior lighting

  HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, BULB WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON

  Feb 20, 2016 · 180,000 miles
• Electrical system

  THIS CARS 1995 MERCEDEZ BENZ SL320 ARE A DANGER FOR DRIVERS AND I THINK GOVERMENT HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF SAFETY MATTER FOR PEOPLE MUST HAVE MERCEDEZ BENZ TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER

  Mar 6, 2016
• EngineFire

  MAF CONNECTOR CAUGHT FIRE, WIRING INSULATION DETERIOTED CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS HAPPEN IN MY GARAGE WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, IF I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WOULD HAVE BURNED EVERYTHING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

  Feb 18, 2016 · 112,518 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.