Total Complaints
22 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ SL · model year
22 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994MERCEDES-BENZSL carries 22 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 5 fires, 3 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 1994 SL is electrical system with 7 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:front underhood (3) and electrical system:wiring (3). 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 1994 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.
Total Complaints
22 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 3 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
THERE ARE MULTIPLE INHERANT FLAWS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY AND ROADWORTHINESS OF THIS AUTOMOBILE INCLUDED HERIN AS ABSERVED BY ME IN MY OWNERSHIP. I HAD REPLACED THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD INSULATION ON THE WIRES THAT LITTERALLY TURNED TO DUST! THESE WIRES WERE FREE TO ARC ON EACHOTHER CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION(THIS CAR IS EQUIPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER IMPUT), FINALLY FAILED THROTTLE RESPONSE! ALL OF THESE INSTANCES CAN, AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SAFETY ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, AND CERTAINLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THESE ISSUES HAVING NARROWLY ESCAPED MANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS (THANKFULLY OTHER CARS HAVE RELIABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS). (THAT WAS THE FIRST HARNESS REPLACED). THE SECOND HARNESS TO FAIL ON ME WAS THE STARTER HARNESS, AGAIN ALL OF THE INSULATION LITERALLY CRUMBLED TO DUST AND LEFT BARE U
Mileage: 155,244
THERE ARE MULTIPLE INHERANT FLAWS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY AND ROADWORTHINESS OF THIS AUTOMOBILE INCLUDED HERIN AS ABSERVED BY ME IN MY OWNERSHIP. I HAD REPLACED THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD INSULATION ON THE WIRES THAT LITTERALLY TURNED TO DUST! THESE WIRES WERE FREE TO ARC ON EACHOTHER CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION(THIS CAR IS EQUIPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER IMPUT), FINALLY FAILED THROTTLE RESPONSE! ALL OF THESE INSTANCES CAN, AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SAFETY ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, AND CERTAINLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THESE ISSUES HAVING NARROWLY ESCAPED MANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS (THANKFULLY OTHER CARS HAVE RELIABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS). (THAT WAS THE FIRST HARNESS REPLACED). THE SECOND HARNESS TO FAIL ON ME WAS THE STARTER HARNESS, AGAIN ALL OF THE INSULATION LITERALLY CRUMBLED TO DUST AND LEFT BARE U
Mileage: 155,244
FAULTY BIODEGRADABLE WIRING IN CAR CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND I NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TO ERRATIC ENGINE FUNCTION 3 TIMES. *TR
Mileage: 118,170
FAULTY BIODEGRADABLE WIRING IN CAR CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND I NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TO ERRATIC ENGINE FUNCTION 3 TIMES. *TR
Mileage: 118,170
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE COMPLETE ENGINE HARNESS IS BEING REPLACED. *TR
Mileage: 69,358
INTERMITTENT IDLE CHANGE AND IDLE SURGES DURING DRIVING. ALSO WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE CAR CUTS OUT. *TR
Mileage: 157,000
INTERMITTENT IDLE CHANGE AND IDLE SURGES DURING DRIVING. ALSO WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE CAR CUTS OUT. *TR
Mileage: 157,000
I HAVE A 1994 600SL MERCEDES (35,000 MILES) WITH COMPLETE BREAK DOWN OF ALL THE ELECTRICAL WIRE INSULATION. UPON MY INVESTIGATION I FIND THAT EVERY SL HAS THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE MERCEDES TO REPLACE ALL THE WIRING HARNESSES INCLUDING THE HARNESS TO THE THROTTLE BODIES. *TR
Mileage: 34,500
ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR 1994 BENZ SL 320 STOPPED RUNNING AND DEALER REPLACED BURNED OUT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT COST ME $1500 TO FIX. *TR
I OWN A 1994 SL 600 MERCEDES BENZ. AFTER PAYING 17,000 DOLLARS FOR THE CAR, I RECENTLY NOTICED THE CAR STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN TRAFFIC. MAJOR CONCERN WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLS WITH EVERYONE BLOWING THEIR HORNS AND I AM DRIVING A 135K DOLLAR CAR. IT FINALLY BREAKS DOWN AND I HAVE IT TOWED TO TONY'S FOREIGN CAR IN WILMINGTON, NC FOR ASSESSMENT. THEY INFORM ME THAT IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE AND SHOWED ME THE DECOMPOSITION OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING. THEY TELL ME IT IS A COMMON FAILURE OF THE 94 TO 97 YEAR MODELS OF MERCEDES AND ALSO LET ME KNOW THAT I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NOT FIRE BECAUSE IT WAS WIRING TO WIRING CONTACT (FIRE HAZARD). THEY ALSO INFORM ME THAT I AM LOOKING AT A LARGE BILL TO REPAIR ($3000.00) BECAUSE SOME OTHER WIRING IS DISINTEGRATED. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. MERCEDES SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A FACTORY RECALL AND NOT ASKED BECAUSE OF THE COMMON FAILURE, SAFETY AND EXPENSE TO OWNERS. *TR
Mileage: 93,289
WIRING HARNESS ON 1994 MERCEDES BENZ SL600, WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES . MY MECHANIC ESTIMATED IT WOULD COST THE COSUMER BETWEEN $7,000 TO $10,000 TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT BY MERCEDES BENZ RESULTING IN A PREMATURE CORROSION OF THE WIRING HARNESS RUNNING ALONG THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS A LARGE STOCK TO MEET THE DEMAND. THE CAR GO INTO THE UNSAFE MODE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING.
Mileage: 80,763
WE OWN A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ SL600 WHICH HAS BEEN DISABLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY DISPLAYED UNUSUAL IDLING, ACCELERATION PROBLEMS 2 YEARS AGO. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE (IGNITION) & THROTTLE BODY WIRING HARNESSES WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE SHIELDING FOR THESE WIRES HAS DISINTEGRATED SO BADLY THAT ALL WIRES ARE CONTACTING EACH OTHER AND CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION. THE WIRE SHIELDING IS AS BRITTLE AS A POTATO CHIP, BREAKING UNDER THE FINGERS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY MERCEDES BENZ USING FAULTY WIRES IN PRODUCTION OF SUCH VEHICLES. AFTER THOROUGH, EDUCATED & CAREFUL INVESTIGATION, THERE IS NO QUESTION THE MANUFACTURE IS AT FAULT IN THIS CASE. OUR REPEATED REQUESTS FOR RESOLUTION OR EVEN ASSISTANCE FROM MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN IGNORED. MERCEDES BENZ IS IGNORING THIS ISSUE AS IT DOES NOT EXIST. THE LAST REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS OVER $12000,00; CONSIDERING SUCH A HIGH AMOUNT, REPAIR IS NOT FEASIBLE. THEREFORE, A CAR COST
ON MY SL320 I HAD THE STARTER MOTOR ENGAGE AND WOULD NOT CUT OFF EVEN WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT. THE WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. THE INSULATION WAS CRACKED AND FALLING OFF. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, ENGINE STOPPAGE, DEACTIVATION OF ABS, ASD, SEAT BELTS, ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS, LIGHTS. WHEN GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACT, ROAD VIBRATION CAUSED DETERIORATED WIRING INSULATION (INSIDE A BUNDLE OF WIRES) TO FALL OFF CAUSING A MASSIVE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT. APPARENTLY SEVERAL MODEL YEARS OF THESE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WIRE INSULATION THAT 'CRUMBLES' TO A POWDER. THIS CONDITION IS NOT VISIBLE DURING ORDINARY INSPECTION AND REQUIRED ONE TO CUT OPEN THE ENCAPSULATED WIRING HARNESSES. FAILED WIRING HARNESSES FOR THESE CARS ARE COMMON I LEARNED FROM SEARCHING THE MDZ BULLETIN BOARDS. I HAVE 6 FAILED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATORS (AT $1800 EACH!!) EXHIBITING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. ONE EXHIBITED UNCOMMANDED WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. THE OTHERS FAILED BY ENTERING THE 'LIMP HOME' MODE. MERCEDES BENZ NORTH AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR OR WARRANT THIS DEFECTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM. I WAS SHOCKED THAT MY CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND A SMALL FIRE ER
Mileage: 89,003
TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, ENGINE STOPPAGE, DEACTIVATION OF ABS, ASD, SEAT BELTS, ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS, LIGHTS. WHEN GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACT, ROAD VIBRATION CAUSED DETERIORATED WIRING INSULATION (INSIDE A BUNDLE OF WIRES) TO FALL OFF CAUSING A MASSIVE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT. APPARENTLY SEVERAL MODEL YEARS OF THESE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WIRE INSULATION THAT 'CRUMBLES' TO A POWDER. THIS CONDITION IS NOT VISIBLE DURING ORDINARY INSPECTION AND REQUIRED ONE TO CUT OPEN THE ENCAPSULATED WIRING HARNESSES. FAILED WIRING HARNESSES FOR THESE CARS ARE COMMON I LEARNED FROM SEARCHING THE MDZ BULLETIN BOARDS. I HAVE 6 FAILED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATORS (AT $1800 EACH!!) EXHIBITING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. ONE EXHIBITED UNCOMMANDED WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. THE OTHERS FAILED BY ENTERING THE 'LIMP HOME' MODE. MERCEDES BENZ NORTH AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR OR WARRANT THIS DEFECTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM. I WAS SHOCKED THAT MY CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND A SMALL FIRE ER
Mileage: 89,003
TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, ENGINE STOPPAGE, DEACTIVATION OF ABS, ASD, SEAT BELTS, ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS, LIGHTS. WHEN GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACT, ROAD VIBRATION CAUSED DETERIORATED WIRING INSULATION (INSIDE A BUNDLE OF WIRES) TO FALL OFF CAUSING A MASSIVE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT. APPARENTLY SEVERAL MODEL YEARS OF THESE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WIRE INSULATION THAT 'CRUMBLES' TO A POWDER. THIS CONDITION IS NOT VISIBLE DURING ORDINARY INSPECTION AND REQUIRED ONE TO CUT OPEN THE ENCAPSULATED WIRING HARNESSES. FAILED WIRING HARNESSES FOR THESE CARS ARE COMMON I LEARNED FROM SEARCHING THE MDZ BULLETIN BOARDS. I HAVE 6 FAILED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATORS (AT $1800 EACH!!) EXHIBITING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. ONE EXHIBITED UNCOMMANDED WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. THE OTHERS FAILED BY ENTERING THE 'LIMP HOME' MODE. MERCEDES BENZ NORTH AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR OR WARRANT THIS DEFECTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM. I WAS SHOCKED THAT MY CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND A SMALL FIRE ER
Mileage: 89,003
INSULATION ON ELECTRICAL WIRING CRUMBLES TO DUST, RESULTING IN SHORTS, DAMAGED ELECTRONICS, ENGINE STALLING, ABS FAILURE, ETC. IT APPEARS MBZ USED DEFECTIVE INSULATION ON THE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESSES. IN ALL LOCATIONS THAT ARE EXPOSED TO HIGHER THAN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE THE INSULATION CRUMBLES TO DUST. . DEALER SAYS 'ITS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 92-95 MODEL YEARS'. REPLACEMENT HARNESSES COST OVER $3000 (2 RQD) AND REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS WITH INTEGRAL DEFECTIVE WIRING COST OVER $8000 (NOT INCLUDING ANY COMPUTER BOXES THAT GET DAMAGED BY SHORTS. *NM
Mileage: 82,560
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ SL-500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED A COMPUTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE SOMETHING DIFFERENT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAPPENED ON A REGULAR BASIS, MORE AND MORE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 YEARS. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER TEN YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED AT THIS TIME.*AK
Mileage: 69,000
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ SL-500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED A COMPUTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE SOMETHING DIFFERENT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAPPENED ON A REGULAR BASIS, MORE AND MORE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 YEARS. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER TEN YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED AT THIS TIME.*AK
Mileage: 69,000
THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM DEVELOPED SEVERE SHORTS, STALLED THE ENGINE, DISABLED THE ABS, ASR,SRS SYSTEMS. WITH ENGINE STALLED, STEERING AND BRAKING WERE DIFFICULT AND RESULTED IN FRONT END DAMAGE FROM IMPACT TO ROADSIDE BRUSH AND DIRT. WIRING INSULATION INSIDE THE WIRING BUNDLES HAD CRUMBLED TO DUST IN MANY PLACES FAR REMOVED FROM THE SHORT/MINOR FIRE. CAR STILL NOT OPERABLE DUE TO OTHER MAJOR WIRING HARNESS SHORTS DUE TO CRUMBLING INSULATION ON THE WIRES (HIDDEN BY THE BUNDLE JACKET) DEALER RESPONSE TOUGH IF YOU HAD BOUGHT IT FROM US, AND IT WAS NEW, MAYBE, OTHERWISE GOOD BYE!*AK
Mileage: 80,600
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.