Total Complaints
3 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL · model year
1990 MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990MERCEDES-BENZ500SL carries 3 consumer safety complaints 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 1990 500SL is visibility:windshield wiper/washer with 1 filings, followed by tires:sidewall (1) and tires (1). 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 1990 500SL. 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.
3
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 |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100721TIRES
PIRELLI TIRES (4) BOUGHT 6/13/10. MY LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A THREE LANE HIGHWAY ON 7/21/10 (38 DAYS LATER). LUCKILY I WAS ON IN THE RIGHT LANE AND BARELY MADE IT TO AN EXIT LANE. THE TIRE IS PIRELLI FOUR SEASONS P6. 225/55R15 I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE BOUGHT FROM MR. TIRE IN ANNAPOLIS. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES. THE POLICEMAN CAME BY AND TOLD ME TO GET MY CAR OFF THE EXIT--HE DID NOT EVEN GET OUT OF HIS CAR TO SEE IF I WAS ALRIGHT.. I HAD ALREADY CALLED AAA PLUS TO TOW MY CAR TO MR. TIRE AND THAT IS WHERE IT IS NOW. *TR
Mileage: 81,740
20000522TIRES:SIDEWALL
TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. (PIRELLI P6-205/65/R15)YH
19961217VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE RAIN AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, IMPAIRING VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND AT A STAND STILL. *AK
Compare 1990MERCEDES-BENZ500SL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL have?▼
The 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:SIDEWALL and TIRES.
Is the 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ 500SL 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.