Total Complaints
2 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 · model year
1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999MERCEDES-BENZSL500 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1999 SL500 is power train with 1 filings, followed by unknown or other (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 1999 SL500. 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
0
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20200123FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER
SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION FOUND A PIECE OF MATERIAL FROM HOOD WEDGED BETWEEN BODY OF VEHICLE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MATERIAL CAUGHT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY IDLING.
Mileage: 157,000
20060629POWER TRAIN
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVETRAIN IS LEAPING AS THE CAR STARTS AND AS YOU START TO SHIFT. NO ACCIDENTS THAT LED UP TO THIS AND THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT SEVERAL (UNKNOWN QUANITY) TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN SEEMS TO BE SENDING POWER FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR TOO QUICKLY AND THIS COULD LEAD TO FUTURE FAILURES AND A SAFETY RISK.
Mileage: 25,000
Compare 1999MERCEDES-BENZSL500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 have?▼
The 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 is POWER TRAIN with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 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.