1997 Mercedes Benz SL500
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercedes Benz › SL500 › 1997
These records cover every 1997 Mercedes Benz SL500. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1997 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.
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 and remedy
Risk
Corrosion of the ignition filament can result in the driver's air bag being deployed unintentionally.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module.
Owner complaints
9 complaints2 involved a crash1 involved a fire4 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Air bags · Seat belts · Seat belts › Pretensioner
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…
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 vehicle observed. passenger side seatbelt retracted but locked. driver's seatbelt retracted and functioned after incident. assumed both airbags (driver and passenger ) activated but did not deploy. car was driven home with srs light and non working passenger seatbelt. mb dealer service dept. (Huntington mb) denies this could have happened (airbag activation and/or no deployment). says probably seatbelt.
- Engine · 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…
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 shop has seen similar problems with mercedes of this vintage and IS aware that mercedes has not provided a voluntary recall to deal with defective parts. *tr
- Air bags
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…
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.
- Electrical system › Wiring
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
- Air bags › Frontal · Air bags › Side/window
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…
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
- 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
- Power train
When the gears were shifted, they became stuck. *ak
- 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
- Structure › Body › Door
Whenever vehicle runs over a bumps or a pothole, it causes door locks to pop open. dealer notified, and problem still ccurring. Feel free to provide any any further information.*ak
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.
- 10181124Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R
- 10181123Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D
- 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.