Total Complaints
1 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 350SL · model year
1972 MERCEDES-BENZ 350SL
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1972MERCEDES-BENZ350SL carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1972 350SL is structure with 1 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 1972 350SL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20120614STRUCTURE
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I PURCHASED AN EXCELLENT CLASSIC 1972 MERCEDES 350SL. I HAD A SAFETY INSPECTION BY A LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER (AUTOHAUS ON EDENS IN GLENCOE IL) BEFORE I COMMITTED TO BUYING THE CAR. AT THE TIME, NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED OR REPORTED. A FEW WEEKS AGO, I TOOK THE CAR TO A CLASSIC MERCEDES SPECIALIST (AXEL'S AUTOMOTIVE) WHO DISCOVERED AN OPEN RECALL ON THE CAR FOR THE SUBFRAME. HE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE SAME MERCEDES DEALER (AUTOHAUS) WHERE I ORIGINALLY HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. THEY (AUTOHAUS) ARE DECLINING THE RECALL REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOW 40 YEARS OLD AND THEY SAY THAT ONCE THEY START WORKING ON IT, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS REQUIRED THAT ARE NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THEY WANT ME TO PAY NEARLY $8,000 (WORST CASE) IN THE EVENT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE REPAIR. NOW THEY WON'T RELEASE THE CAR UNLESS I SIGN A LIABILITY WAIVER. THE CAR IS BEAUTIFUL AND RUNS FINE, BUT IS NOW SITTING IN BACK OF THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU CAN HEL
Mileage: 153,000
Compare 1972MERCEDES-BENZ350SL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1972 MERCEDES-BENZ 350SL have?▼
The 1972 MERCEDES-BENZ 350SL has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1972 MERCEDES-BENZ 350SL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1972 MERCEDES-BENZ 350SL is STRUCTURE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1972 MERCEDES-BENZ 350SL safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.