Total Complaints
20 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS · model year
1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS
20 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998MERCEDES-BENZSL CLASS carries 20 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 1998 SL CLASS is equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc. with 3 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch (1) and suspension (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 1998 SL CLASS. 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.
20
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 |
|---|---|
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLING/CHARGING | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20101108TIRES
PURCHASED NEW MICHELIN SPORT TIRES DOT GUDL 275/35 ZR 18 ON11/3/2010 AND FOUND OUT THAT THE MANUFACTURING DATE WAS 1107. THESE TIRES WERE OVER 3 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD AS NEW. THE TIRE DEALER ACCEPTED MY COMPLAINT AND REPLACED THEM WITH 0909 TIRES. THE OLD ONES WERE BEING RETURNED TO THE DISTRIBUTOR BUT I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE RESOLD OR DESTROYED. SHOULDN'T THERE BE GUIDELINES MAKING SURE 3 YR OLD TIRES ARE DESTROYED AND NOT SOLD AS NEW? *TR
20090529SUSPENSION:FRONT
PURCHASED 1998 MERCEDES BENZ SL 600 FROM MBZ SAN FRANCISCO DEALERSHIP ON 4/22/09. IMMEDIATELY REPORTED EXCESSIVE AND DANGEROUS BOUNCING OF FRONT END. REPORTED DEFECT DEALER TOOK NO ACTION. TOOK CAR TO MBZ OF OAKLAND WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED BAD FRONT SUSPENSION PRESSURE CELLS WHICH CLEARLY EXISTED AT TIME OF SALE. OAKLAND MBZ COMPED DIAGNOSTIC. HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE SF MBZ CORRECT PROBLEM, BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE WORK AND HAVE IGNORED MY LETTERS. *TR
Mileage: 25,319
20030327SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
THE BRAKE SYSTEM VACUUM BOOSTER DID NOT HOLD THE VACUUM AND CAUSED A HISSING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COST. PH *NLM
Mileage: 24,870
19990908VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATING, A/C, AND RADIO FAILURES.
19990908EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
HEATING, A/C, AND RADIO FAILURES.
19990908FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLING/CHARGING
GAS TANK FUEL SENDING UNIT.
19990908FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
GAS GAUGE.
19990908STRUCTURE:BODY
HARD TOP. CD PLAYER. PHONE. WOOD TRIM PAINT. MOST PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DEALER ERRORS.
19990908EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
HARD TOP. CD PLAYER. PHONE. WOOD TRIM PAINT. MOST PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DEALER ERRORS.
19990908EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
HARD TOP. CD PLAYER. PHONE. WOOD TRIM PAINT. MOST PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DEALER ERRORS.
19990610EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
ANTENNA FAILED. *YC
19990610LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
TRUNK LOCK FAILED. *YC
19990511SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
VACUUM LINE DOOR/COUPLER FAILED. MJS
19990422FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
19990312EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
TAIL LIGHT FAILED.
19981127POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
VACUUM FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON.
19981127SUSPENSION
SUSPENSION FAILED.
19981127SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED CAUSING GRINDING AND SQUEAKING.
19981127VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDOWS FAILED CAUSING SQUEAKING AND CHATTERING.
19981127SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
1R SIGNAL WIRE HAD A BAD CONNECTION CAUSING THE PHONE NOT TO WORK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, LOW FUEL LIGH TO BLINK, AND THE DOOR LOCKS TO MALFUNCTION.
Compare 1998MERCEDES-BENZSL CLASS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS have?▼
The 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS has 20 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS is EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH and SUSPENSION.
Is the 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS 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.