Model year record

1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 recalls & problems

The 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 has 2 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (5 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints9filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

WheelsFeb 6, 2006

Wheels

Recall 06E01400031,422 vehicles

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

Air bagsNov 22, 1999

Frontal

Recall 99V3270004,402 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CORROSION OF THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION FILAMENT OF THE AIR BAG GAS GENERATOR MODULE CAN OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN AREAS OF FREQUENTLY HIGH HUMIDITY.
Risk: CORROSION OF THE IGNITION FILAMENT CAN RESULT IN THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG BEING DEPLOYED UNINTENTIONALLY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE.

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

SL500

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

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

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsSide/window; Frontal	5	3	0	7	56,000 mi
Seat beltsPretensioner	2	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door	1	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components	1	0	0	0	—
Power train	1	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring	1	0	1	0	—
Steering	1	0	0	0	—
Engine	1	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 209K MILES. SUNDAY 1/19/20 DRIVING WB ON MONTAUK HIGHWAY (NYS 27A?) AT QUOGUE NY. SPEED APPROX. 35-40 MPH. SLIGHT TURN/BEND IN ROAD TO THE RIGHT. SUNNY, DRY PAVEMENT. NO OTHER CARS FOLLOWING OR AHEAD, EITHER DIRECTION. VERY LOUD BANG HEARD INSIDE CABIN, BOTH SEATBELTS IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENED AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FELT STRONG AIR BLAST; THAT EACH DESCRIBED AS BEING HIT IN CHEST. SOUND/AIRBLAST FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A BURNING/GUNPOWDER SMELL AND SLIGHT WHITE SMOKE IN CABIN. SRS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD WENT ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND OBSERVED NO OBJECTS IN ROAD BEHIND VEHICLE. ALSO, NO POTHOLES OR ROAD DEFECTS, ONLY SMOOTH PAVEMENT. NO DAMAGE TO FRONT OR SIDE OF…
Jan 19, 2020 · 209,000 miles
Steering
WIRING INSULATION FOR LIGHTS AND POWER STEERING DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING MASSIVE SHORTS IN MULTIPLE SYSTEMS, DRAINING THE BATTERY AND RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I MANEUVERED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ONTO AN OFF RAMP THAT PROVIDED A SAFE EXIT FROM THE 6 LANE BELTWAY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, POWER STEERING, HALF OF THE INSTRUMENTS (INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER), BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM ARE INOPERABLE DUE TO BARE WIRES SHORTING OUT THE WIRING HARNESSES. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS BEGINS WITH REPLACING THE LIGHTING WIRING HARNESS AT A COST OF $4000, WITH NO GUESS AS TO WHAT THE FINAL COSTS MIGHT BE, PROVIDED THEY CAN FIND A WIRING HARNESS. THE…
Jun 12, 2013 · 137,452 miles
Air bagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED UP TO 70 MPH AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUFFERED BROKEN RIBS AND A SHATTERED SPINE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO TREAT THE INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Mar 28, 2011 · 130,000 miles
Electrical system › WiringFire
I HAD A WIRING HARNESS FIRE IN MY VEHICLE A 1997 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500, IT IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WIRE HARNESS BUT MERCEDES BENZ IS DECLINING ANY INVOLVEMENT, I KNOW OF 129 OTHER FAILURES IN LIKE VEHICLES, IT'S COSTING ME $10,000 TO FIX AND I WILL NOT HAVE MY CAR BACK UNTIL JULY 2007. THIS NEEDS TO STOP MERCEDES IS DEINYING ALL INVOLVMENT.*AK
Jan 27, 2007 · 114,000 miles
Air bags › Side/windowCrash3 injuries
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A 1997 MERCEDES SL-500 IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK (T-BONED) ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT OTHER VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. THERE WAS A RECALL TO HAVE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG REPLACED. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE THIS RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT INTENDED TO DEPLOY IN THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT. *AK
Jan 19, 2002 · 40,000 miles
Air bags › Side/window
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AND THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, AND WAS TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE HIT SOMETHING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT. *AK *NM
Dec 7, 2004 · 56,000 miles
Power train
WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED, THEY BECAME STUCK. *AK
Jun 18, 2003
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
WHILE DRIVING AT 40-50 MPH AND TRYING TO SLOW DOWN CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Jun 2, 2002

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