1994 Mercedes Benz SL500
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercedes Benz › SL500 › 1994
These records cover every 1994 Mercedes Benz SL500. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1994 Mercedes Benz SL500. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
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.
Owner complaints
8 complaints2 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Fuel/propulsion system · Structure › Body
Engine compartment fire near drivers firewall. Fire was extinguished however strong fuel vapors remained. Origin of fire unknown. I submitted a report for my 1999 mercedes which caught fire from the hood insulation falling onto the hot manifold in the same general area.
- Electrical system
Factory material defect. engine wire harness insulation IS breaking down and flaking off, leaving exposed wire. ignition IS poor and threatens to stall, especially when engine temperature warms up to 85-90c. I fear the engine may fail or catch fire during a drive and cause an accident. there IS also a short in the audio system. the vehicle IS beautiful. it IS a shame to have it sitting since 2008. *tr
- Electrical system
Started the car at work and it was running rough had no acceleration. Went into limp home mode and I was able to get home. A mechanic found the wiring harness was deteriorating, flaking and falling apart exposing all the wires. The car would no long even start. I called mercedes to see if they…
Started the car at work and it was running rough had no acceleration. Went into limp home mode and I was able to get home. A mechanic found the wiring harness was deteriorating, flaking and falling apart exposing all the wires. The car would no long even start. I called mercedes to see if they would help with the cost of the part replacement. They denied any problem with the product and would not assist in any repair. I logged a complaint with them under my name and have tried many times to get assistance with the repair. The car IS still sitting in my driveway as the replacement harness IS over a $1000. *Tr
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
While attempting to track down the cause of an occasionally erratic idle I removed the engine cover to examine the plug wires and discovered a rather alarming problem/safety issue. the main engine wire harness for the fuel injectors and other engine systems had bare wires!!?? upon further…
While attempting to track down the cause of an occasionally erratic idle I removed the engine cover to examine the plug wires and discovered a rather alarming problem/safety issue. the main engine wire harness for the fuel injectors and other engine systems had bare wires!!?? upon further examination the wire insulation appears to have simple vanished??? Not just on exposed wires (as could have been caused by rodents for example) but if you peal back the outer harness cover all the wires inside are bare and there appears to be the remnants of the insulation as powder with occasional little pieces of various colored insulation with cracks??? in all my years of maintaining my own vehicles and having owned in excess of 30 automobiles both foreign and domestic I have never seen such a problem. my question for you IS, IS this normal for a mercedes car that cost nearly $100,000 when new? IS this a design defect covered by recall or extended warranty? my local dealer said it was a common problem but that they know of no recall and estimated they could repair for about $1,600.00. IS it safe to drive the car? IS it safe to continue to park the car in my basement garage? IS this a fire hazard or are all systems off when parked? *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
1994 mercedes benz sl500 engine wiring harness failure. Harness insulation seems to be disintegrating. *Jb
- Electrical system › Wiring
Dt*: the contact stated while stopped at a stop sign, the engine started making loud noises. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealership, who determined the engine wiring harnesses had to be replaced and that the vehicle was not safe to operate with such…
Dt*: the contact stated while stopped at a stop sign, the engine started making loud noises. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealership, who determined the engine wiring harnesses had to be replaced and that the vehicle was not safe to operate with such wiring conditions. the repair was rather expensive and was covered at the contact's expense. the contact encountered several complaints on the internet for the same defect however; no recall had been conducted yet. the vehicle remained at the dealership.
- Electrical system › Wiring
My wiring harness has disintegrated. I have shorts in the wiring that have so far affected the alternator, heating cooling, fuel injection and lights. *nm
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Hfm & other wiring harnesses are deteriorated. Vehicle has been maintained to manufacturers recommendations since new. deteriorated wiring harness causes check engine lights, ignition malfunctions, electrical shorts occur in the engine compartment. Wire insulation / coatings are obviously not up to the task. This IS dangerous situation. *Jb
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10167001Height adjustment of electric steering column adjustment is nonfunctional.
- 10166997The noise comes from the front axle. Vehicles without code B07 (AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system)
- 10166976Message in instrument cluster "DISTRONIC PLUSCurrently Unavailable - See Owner's Manual"
- 10165844Possible minor leakage at described components or oil transfer from assembly plant.
- 10165839Shift quality complaints on TRANSMISSION 722.9 (7G-TRONIC and 7G-TRONIC PLUS)
- 10135628iPhone mobile phone: Various complaints after software update to iOS8
- 10044222Mercedes benz: front or rear seat belt does not roll up correctly. Dirt deposits on the seat belt guide due to soiled seat belt. Also included models 169, f cell, 246, and 231. No model years given.
- 10033070Xentry (mercedes): engine warning lamp IS currently on or was on and a delay fault of the camshaft adjust to current or stored in the engine control unit. Models 171, 203, 209, 211, 219, 221, 216, 230, 164, 251, and 403. No model years listed.
- 10030929Mercedes: corrosion protection coatings for brake components and hardware may be damaged and or stripped away if highly concentrated acid based cleaners are used. Once the corrosion protection IS damaged or removed the brake components and or hardware can begin to corrode. Include all models and model years.
- 10028626Mercedes: the vehicle's suspension level randomly lowering while driving and/or rapid sporadic level changes shortly after stopping the vehicle, replace the body acceleration sensors. Models 215.3, 220, and 230. Model years unknown.
- 10028587Mercedes: leaks at steering gear control head connection to high or low pressure lines or leaks at internal steering lines of control head connection to steering gear housing. Models 171, 203, 204, 209, 211, 215, 216, 219, 220, 221, and 230. Model years unknown.
- 10028585Mercedes vehicles: the xenon or bi-xenon headlamp not functioning. A function description can be found in wis document gf8s.10-p-20010 (203), gf82.10-p-0003q (209); gf82.10-p-3002r (230). Model years uknown.
- 10016687Abc visit workshop displayed in instrument cluster and hydraulic fluid leakage. Updated 5/14/09. Models 215, 220 and 230. Model years unknown.
Every Mercedes Benz SL500 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.