PlainCars

MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 · model year

1997 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320

9 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997MERCEDES-BENZSL320 carries 9 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 1997 SL320 is electrical system:wiring with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (2) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (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 1997 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.

9
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

9 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 SYSTEM:WIRING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
WHEELS:MULTI PIECE1
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER1
SEAT BELTS1

Recent Complaints

20190409SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

AT A SLOW 5 MPH PARKING LOT SPEED THE SEAT BELT TENSIONING DEVICES IGNITED. THE SRS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THERE WERE NO IMPACTS, PREVIOUS COLLISIONS, OR ANY REASON FOR THESE PRE-TENSIONING DEVICES TO ACTIVATE. IT WAS STARTING AND MY WIFE'S CHEST HURT FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER.

Mileage: 150,000

20190409SEAT BELTS

AT A SLOW 5 MPH PARKING LOT SPEED THE SEAT BELT TENSIONING DEVICES IGNITED. THE SRS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THERE WERE NO IMPACTS, PREVIOUS COLLISIONS, OR ANY REASON FOR THESE PRE-TENSIONING DEVICES TO ACTIVATE. IT WAS STARTING AND MY WIFE'S CHEST HURT FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER.

Mileage: 150,000

20041222ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BURN SMELL COMING FROM ELECTRICAL HARNESS BOX. MR THE HARNESS BOX WAS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN OIL LEAK. *JB

20041222ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

BURN SMELL COMING FROM ELECTRICAL HARNESS BOX. MR THE HARNESS BOX WAS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN OIL LEAK. *JB

20030422FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO USE THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE BUT IT DID NOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER THEN OPENED THE TRUNK AND AT THAT TIME THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE CONSUER THEN NOTICED THAT THE BLACK BOX, IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE BATTER, BURNED. TEH VEHICLE ALSO LEAKED OIL. *AK *NLM

20030422FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO USE THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE BUT IT DID NOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER THEN OPENED THE TRUNK AND AT THAT TIME THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE CONSUER THEN NOTICED THAT THE BLACK BOX, IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE BATTER, BURNED. TEH VEHICLE ALSO LEAKED OIL. *AK *NLM

19990823WHEELS:MULTI PIECE

CHROME TIRE WHEEL IS LOOSE. YH

19990415EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

A/C FAILURE.

19980930VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

SINGLE WIPER BLADE HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIME IN 1 YR. DEALER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH BLADES NOT LASTING.

Compare 1997MERCEDES-BENZSL320 to Similar Vehicles

SL320 vs FORDF-150 → SL320 vs FORDEXPLORER → SL320 vs JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE → SL320 vs FORDESCAPE →

NHTSA Investigations

DP23003Defect PetitionClosed

Malfunction Indicator Light / No-Start

DP22002Defect PetitionClosed

C300 Wrist-pin allegation

PE21019Preliminary EvaluationClosed

Vehicle Rolls Away While in Park

PE21001Preliminary EvaluationClosed

Front Roof Panel Detachment

DP20004Defect PetitionClosed

Rear brake line failure

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 have?▼
The 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER.
Is the 1997 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

Understanding NHTSA Complaints → Vehicle Recalls Explained → Safest Car Brands 2026 → Most Reliable Used Cars → Lemon Law Guide →

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.