MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 · model year

2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320

2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2000MERCEDES-BENZSL320 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 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 2000 SL320 is vehicle speed control:linkages with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (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 2000 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.

2
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

2 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1

Recent Complaints

20010501CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

RPMS INCREASE AAT 20MPH. DRIVER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES HE WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THAT VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED,THE PROLONGED STOPPING DISTANCE CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO REPORTS THAT ENGINE FAILS TO SHUT DOWN.*JB

20010501CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

RPMS INCREASE AAT 20MPH. DRIVER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES HE WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THAT VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED,THE PROLONGED STOPPING DISTANCE CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, CONSUMER ALSO REPORTS THAT ENGINE FAILS TO SHUT DOWN.*JB

Compare 2000MERCEDES-BENZSL320 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 have?
The 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320?
The most-complained component for the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL320 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 2000 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.