1.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
109,082 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #10

Feb 212008

SL500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,820 miles
Wiring harness failure causing stalling.

- Temecula, CA, USA

problem #9

Nov 202007

SL500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
My auxiliary fans would not initiate, so we decided to replace the switch that controls the fans. Low and behold, the wiring that was attached to this switch was crumbling like stale bread crumbs and flakes. I wanted to replace the wire, so I undid the entire harness. I found worse! the entire harness was crumbling, but I was not able to see it before because of the black covering around the wiring. The harness is completely ruined and I can't believe the # of complaints I'm finally seeing regarding this problem. Wow! bad engineering on the part of Mercedes for this issue. My car is a 1995 that has been garage its entire life, for the most part. I am going through the painstaking labor of re-wiring this entire harness myself...and it's not looking good.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #8

Nov 122007

SL500 12-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,000 miles
The fuel system wiring harness on my 1995 Mercedes-Benz S600 shorted out and made my car inoperable. This occurred while sitting in traffic drive back from work. I was able to 'jiggle' the wires enough to limp to my driveway. While 'limping', the car continuously backfired and heaved towards the cars in front of me, narrowly rear-ending them.

- Carmel, IN, USA

problem #7

Sep 052007

SL500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 212,000 miles
Asr light coming on intermittently. Faulty wiring causing asr to fail. Cost to repair $1,500. Clearly a manufacturer's design defect.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #6

Sep 012006

SL500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
Engine stalls and runs rough. Wire harness failed and is a safety hazard.

- Edina, MN, USA

problem #5

Nov 152006

SL500 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 198,000 miles
My 1995 Mercedes S320 wiring harness insulation decomposing. Bare wires are exposed at engine coil connections. The insulation on the harness wires is just crumbling. Vehicle is presently disabled in limp mode. Prior to this, the vehicle would go into limp mode while executing turns. Part cost is $750; dealer labor cost is $600. The wiring may have damaged other electrical components (I.e.: computer or voltage regulator). This wiring insulation problem is not normal with any vehicle, no less one that costs $65,000 new. This most definitely should be a recall item.

- Bedford, NH, USA

problem #4

Aug 242006

SL500 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 134,000 miles
My 1995 Mercedes S320 has been stalling and misfiring and sometimes doesn't start up. I took it for tune up, but the mechanic said he cant do anything because the fault wiring harness insulation from factory is peeling off and making the wires short-circuit and if he tries to do anything it will make it worse, I have talked to several Mercedes owners with earlier and mid 90S who have same problem and I think this is a potential fire hazard and you should petition the manufacturer on our behalf.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #3

Jan 202006

SL500 12-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,000 miles
Wiring harness has completely disintegrated from the ignition control unit all the way to the engine sensors including wires that are connected to the fuel injection. Wires are bare and touching. Vehicle smells on fuel but there are no leaks to be found. Please contact me if you need pictures. This is not some 11,000 Hyundai guys. This is a 142,000 S600 Mercedes. I feel fortunate that my children and myself did not burn to death somewhere on the road. I have never in my life seen anything like this.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #2

Jan 092005

SL500

  • miles
4 units of S600 (V12) and 1 unit S500 all suffered deterioration of the wiring harness in the engine compartment, I am not the first victim, and Mercedes Benz as a company is aware of this please stop pretending you don't know about this issue cause the technical and engineering division of daimler Chrysler was well informed and it was also documented, and yet to avoid responsibility, they will keep all their eyes close.

- Quezon City, 00, USA

problem #1

Jun 182004

SL500 12-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles
Experiencing multiple check engine faults in my 1995 Mercedes Benz S600. Surging engine, intermittent rough idle. Inspection of wiring harness controlling engine shows degrading wiring insulation. Many cracks in insulation are causing short circuits which can cause engine stalling, surging, and is a fire hazard. This will require the wiring harness to be replaced. The work has not yet been performed.

- Chicago, IL, USA