Total Complaints
1 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ SL · model year
1990 MERCEDES-BENZ SL
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990MERCEDES-BENZSL 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 1990 SL is electrical system:wiring 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 1990 SL. 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070904ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IS HARDENED AND BRITTLE AND WIRES ARE TOUCHING EACH OTHER THAT SHOULD NOT. I SPENT 30 YEARS IN THE CAR BUSINESS AND FOUND THAT THE SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT IN VOLVO CARS AND MERCEDES. THE WIRING HARNESS IS SUB OUT TO FRENCH CONTRACTORS AND THE PLASTIC ON THE WIRES HARDENS AND FALLS OFF THE WIRES AND THE VACUUM LINES WHEN IN CONTACT WITH BATTERY ACID EATS THEM UP WHICH WIPES OUT THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM. SOMEONE SHOULD TAKE THE INCENTIVE AND BRING THEIR STANDARDS UP--- OR HIRE SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THE JOB. MY FIRST MBZ WAS A 190 SL AND I WAS SHOCKED AT THE AVAILABLE PARTS FROM THE FACTORY--THEY WERE GREAT. I HAVE HAD MANY MORE OF THESE CARS AND STILL LOVE THEM. BUT, THE GERMANS BUILD AND ENGINEER GREAT CARS, THEY SHOULD MAKE THE SUBCONTRACTORS BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP. DON'T BELIEVE ME? TALK TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS. *JB
Compare 1990MERCEDES-BENZSL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ SL have?▼
The 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ SL has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ SL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ SL is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1990 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 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.