Total Complaints
1 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL · model year
1974 MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1974MERCEDES-BENZ450SL 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 1974 450SL is steering 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 1974 450SL. 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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20171003STEERING
AS THE SECOND, AND RELATIVELY NEW, OWNER OF A LOW MILEAGE VINTAGE MERCEDES, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED IN JUNE 2017 THAT THERE IS AN OPEN SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS MODEL DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES CRACKS IN THE SUBFRAME, LEADING TO A POTENTIAL "CATASTROPHIC FAILURE" OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. I HAVE TAKEN ALL THE STEPS RECOMMENDED, INCLUDING TAKING THE CAR FOR ASSESSMENT AT A MERCEDES DEALER IN JULY OF 2017 TO BE TOLD THAT THIS SPECIFIC CAR DOES HAVE A CRACKED SUBFRAME, YET MERCEDES BENZ US IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGN, SAYING THAT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO OFFER ASSISTANCE. THIS REFUSAL HAS LEFT ME BOTH UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY, OR TO ETHICALLY SELL IT TO ANOTHER COLLECTOR DUE TO THE HIGH RISK INVOLVED, INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL FULL LOSS OF THE STEERING MECHANISM AS THE WHOLE SUBFRAME HAS BEEN KNOWN TO DROP OUT OF THESE CARS WHILE MOVING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER OF 1985 WITH THE RECALL NUMBE
Mileage: 19,305
Compare 1974MERCEDES-BENZ450SL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1974 MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL have?▼
The 1974 MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1974 MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1974 MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL is STEERING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1974 MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL 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.