MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 · model year

1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320

17 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995MERCEDES-BENZSL320 carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 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 1995 SL320 is electrical system with 11 filings, followed by engine (2) and air bags (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 1995 SL320. 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.

17
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

17 filings

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

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
ENGINE2
AIR BAGS1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1

Recent Complaints

20190707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

(XXXX) BIODEGRADING WIRING HARNESS REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Mileage: 135,000

20190423ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE IS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ SL320R AND WAS BUILT WITH BIODEGRADABLE WIRING INSULATION IN THE ENGINE HARNESS. THE INSULATION IS DETERIORATING AND CAUSING PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS 131,000 MILES. I'M THE 3RD OWNER. POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET INDICATE POTENTIALLY FATAL FAILURES ARE POSSIBLE. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE?

Mileage: 121,000

20180205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE COMPUTER CLUSTER WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TT

Mileage: 130,000

20180116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320R. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC ON THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PEELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF AUGUSTA AT (706) 860-1111 (LOCATED AT 3061 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN AND THERE WOULD BE A FEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TT *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20160718FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ENGINE BAY WIRING HARNESSES HAVE DISINTEGRATED ON THE CAR DUE TO USE OF HEAT SUSCEPTIBLE WIRE INSULATION. THIS HAS CAUSED BARE WIRES TO SHORT OUT IN THE ENGINE BAY. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SPONTANEOUSLY SURGE RESULTING IN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. SUBSEQUENT TO THE SURGING, IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE WITH WAS CAUSING THESE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS, ELECTRICAL ARCING AND SMOLDERING OF THE WIRING BECAME APPARENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND MB HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT IT. THE REPAIR INVOLVES THE RELATIVELY SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF 4 WIRING HARNESSES IN THE ENGINE BAY. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AFFECTING MANY MERCEDES VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN 1991 AND 1996.

Mileage: 140,000

20160609EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, BULB WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON

Mileage: 180,000

20160308ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS CARS 1995 MERCEDEZ BENZ SL320 ARE A DANGER FOR DRIVERS AND I THINK GOVERMENT HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF SAFETY MATTER FOR PEOPLE MUST HAVE MERCEDEZ BENZ TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER

20160308UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS CARS 1995 MERCEDEZ BENZ SL320 ARE A DANGER FOR DRIVERS AND I THINK GOVERMENT HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF SAFETY MATTER FOR PEOPLE MUST HAVE MERCEDEZ BENZ TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER

20160228FireENGINE

MAF CONNECTOR CAUGHT FIRE, WIRING INSULATION DETERIOTED CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS HAPPEN IN MY GARAGE WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, IF I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WOULD HAVE BURNED EVERYTHING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

Mileage: 112,518

20160112VISIBILITY/WIPER

AFTER A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT BY SAFELITE AUTO GLASS I HAD 3 SMALL IMPACT WHICH CAUSED A CRACK AND NOW IS GROWING, I BELIEVE THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD IS NOT TO STANDARDS, AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS BACK TO SAFELITE AND A CALL TO THE COMPANY'S CORPORATE OFFICE ALL THEY WILL DO IS OFFER A REDUCED PRICE FOR THE SAME QUALITY PRODUCT, UNACCEPTABLE!!!

Mileage: 155,000

20151206ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, ETA WIRING HARNESS, FUEL INJECTION WIRING DEFECTIVE CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL AND ELECTRICAL TO CEASE WHILE IN MOTION.

Mileage: 170,000

20150312ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY MERCEDES BENZ 1994 WIRE HARNESS SHORTED DUE TO FAULTY INSULATION. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO HAVE THE AUTO TOWED. I UNDERSTAND THE OVER 1 MILLION MB CARS ARE EFFECTED. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *TR

Mileage: 126,609

20150220ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TODAY, AFTER A ROUTINE LOF SERVICE, MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY SL320 HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT MY CAR WAS UNSAFE. HE CLAIMS THAT THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MADE OF A BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL AND THAT IT HAS NOW BIODEGRADED TO THE POINT THAT THERE NO LONGER IS ANY INSULATION, HE CLAIMS THAT MERCEDES KNOWS THAT THEIR HARNESSES ARE DEFECTIVE BUT THEY WILL TAKE NO ACTION IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM, INDEED FOR MANY YEARS THEY SOLD REPLACEMENT HARNESSES WITH THE SAME DEFECT. WHO KNOWS WHAT THE CURRENT WIRING HARNESS NOW BEING SOLD, WILL SOON DEVELOP ISSUES AS WELL? *TR

Mileage: 32,500

20141024AIR BAGS

THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A DIAGNOSTIC CODE INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE (LOCATED IN THE DASH BOARD, BEHIND THE RADIO) WAS NOT WORKING. THIS IS NOT A SERVICEABLE PART. A NEW MODULE IS $1,400, REPEAT, YES, $1,400, NOT INSTALLED. I THINK AIR BAG EQUIPMENT SHOULD HAVE LIFE TIME WARRANTIES AND CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT BE $1,400. THE WOULD APPEAR TO BE PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE SAFETY. I AM A TEACHER, NOT A STOCK BROKER. I BOUGHT THIS CAR THREE YEARS AGO ( THE VEHICLE WAS17 YEARS OLD). IT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AND WELL MAINTAINED. IF THE ENGINE THREW A ROD OR THE TRANS WENT OUT, MY TOUGH LUCK. BUT I THINK SAFETY THINGS SUCH AS AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE LIFE TIME WARRANTIES. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20141015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HELLO MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I OWN A 1995 SL320. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER OF IMPORTANCE OF LIFE AND DEATH. THE MERCEDES BENZ ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE AND MB KNOWS THIS. LISTED BELOW IS AN ARTICLE I FOUND WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF REPLACING AND THE IGNORANCE ON MERCEDES BEHALF. THIS HARNESS CONTAINS HUNDREDS OF WIRES BUNDLED INSIDE TIGHTLY WRAPPED TAPE. THE WIRES COMMUNICATE INFORMATION FROM THE MANY SENSORS OF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES BACK TO THE COMPUTER MODULES. THE MODULES USE THIS INFORMATION TO REGULATE CRITICAL FUNCTIONS SUCH AS ENGINE IDLE SPEEDS, RPM, FUEL MIXTURE, FUEL INJECTION, IGNITION AND MANY MORE. WHEN THE INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THESE COMPUTERS IS GARBLED OR ERRONEOUS THE ENGINE WILL RUN ROUGH, ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY OR QUIT ALTOGETHER. IN ADDITION WHEN THE WIRES SHORT IT COULD CAUSE ENGINE FIRES, SUDDEN STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY AND OTHER FAILURES THAT COULD CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. IN EFFECT, THE VEHICLE

20140413ENGINE

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED AND STARTED SMOKING. ENGINE STALLED THIS REDUCED VEHICLE CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. *JS

Mileage: 140,000

20140409ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED SHORTING OUT WIRES CONTROLLING ENGINE. CAUSING INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALLING CAUSING REDUCED AND/OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

Compare 1995MERCEDES-BENZSL320 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 have?
The 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 has 17 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320?
The most-complained component for the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 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.