NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz 300SL

Data refreshed July 19, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

Complaints

253

Active records

Recalls

7

Active records

TSBs

58

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

14

Crashes

11

Fires

18

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz 300SL

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

110

Operating state

64

Engine behavior

58

Electrical issue

29

Reporting mechanism

25

Thermal issue

23

Noise

20

Performance issue

20

Safety restraint issue

20

Starting behavior

17

Safety restraint behavior

15

Fluid issue

12

Braking behavior

10

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

10

Vibration/harshness

8

Ride/handling behavior

7

Access/entry issue

6

HVAC behavior

6

Lighting behavior

6

Driver assistance issue

5

Smell

4

Wiper/washer behavior

3

Powering on/off behavior

2

Recent change

2

Steering behavior

2

Infotainment behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL

Filed May 13, 2014


IGNITION SHUT OFF MULTIPLE TIMES OVER DAYS WHILE DRIVING CUTTING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL RADIO, BRAKES STEERING ETC HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE 2004 OR 2005 WITH BATTERY SUDDENLY BEING DEAD BOTH ACCESSORY BATTERY IN TRUNK AND STARTING BATTERY AND HAS HAD MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON VARIOUS PARTS AND COMPUTERS THAT WERE SAID TO BE DRAWING DOWN THE BATTERY, ABOUT A YEAR AGO CONTACTED PRESIDENT OF MB NORTH AMERICA AND GOT NO HELP FROM CUSTOMER REP THEN LAST MONTH CAR LEFT ME IN…

2006 MERCEDES BENZ SL

Filed Apr 5, 2014


I WAS DRIVING A 2006 SL65. THE CAR HAD AN ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THUS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS CONNECTED TO A SENSOR WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO A PUMP WHICH TURNED THE BRAKES ON. SOMETHING FAILED. THERE WERE NO BRAKES! LUCKILY I DID NOT CRASH DESPITE BEING ON A CHICAGO CITY STREET. I WAS PROBABLY ON THE ONLY STREET WHERE I WOULD NOT HAVE CRASHED. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL ON OLDER SLS FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REMEDIED BUT THIS SHOULD BE A NEVER EVENT. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I…

1999 MERCEDES BENZ 300

Filed Mar 24, 2014


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO LOCK THE DOORS BUT NOTICED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT USED THE SPARE KEY AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE MAIN KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE KEY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL CLASS

Filed Nov 20, 2013


MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. SHE WAS ON A BACK ROAD AND HAD TO BRAKE FOR A STOP SIGN. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TO AVOID REAR ENDING A CAR STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN, AND FINALLY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE BRAKES STARTED TO WORK WITH ABOUT 1 OF PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR. SHE SAID IT WAS SO HARD TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL THAT SHE COULD BARELY DO IT. LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT HURT. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR ROAD OR HIGHWAY …

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SERIES

Filed Sep 29, 2013


BATTERY GOES DEAD, REPLACED BATTERY, IT GOES DEAD. CHARGED BATTERY , IT GOES DEAD. *TR

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300

Filed Apr 10, 2013


THE ENGINE HARNESS PROBLEM AFTER OWNING MY CAR SINCE 1993. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS MADE WITH BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL WHICH HAS NOW LOST IT'S PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE METAL WIRES. WITH WIRES EXPOSED AFTER THE ENGINE HARNESS DEGRATION, THE CAR WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST ME FOR A LONG TIME, HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO USE. WITHOUT THE PROPER HARNESS REPLACEMENT, THE CAR IS TOTALLY USELESS. UPON CHECKING INTO THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT EVERY E300 BUILT BETWEEN 1992 AND 1997…

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL

Filed Dec 14, 2012


I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY ABC LIGHT VISIT WORKSHOP LIGHT CAME ON. OK, THAT'S FINE I'LL TAKE IT TO THE SHOP TOMORROW. WHILE ON MY WAY HOME MY CAR SUDDENLY DROPS IN HEIGHT AND A WARNING SIGN CAME ON SAYING STOP DRIVING, CAR TOO LOW. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT MY CAR HAD MAYBE AN INCH OF CLEARANCE IN THE FRONT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF IT FEEL ANY LOWER I WOULD BE DEAD DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND LEFT IT THERE AND WAITED…

1992 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SERIES

Filed Dec 11, 2012


THE GUY SOLD TO ME WITH IT NOT RUNNING HE SAID HE HAD THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED AND IT STILL DON'T RUN 700 WAS SPENT I HAVE RECITE ITS A 1992 300SE THIS IS SICK THIS IS WHAT [XXX] TOLD HIM AND IT STILL DON'T RUN SO NOW WHAT? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1995 MERCEDES BENZ 300 SERIES

Filed Oct 24, 2012


VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS BURNS AND SHORTS DUE TO INSULATION ON WIRING DEGRADING CAUSING FAILURE OF NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

2003 MERCEDES BENZ SL

Filed Aug 11, 2012


FAILURE OF ACTIVE BODY CONTROL HYDRAULIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM; PUMP AND WHEEL VALVE FAILURES RESULTING IN LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AND RESULTING LOSS OF ABILITY OF CAR TO MAINTAIN SAFE VEHICLE HEIGHT AND SAFE DRIVABLE. *TR

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated July 19, 2026. Refreshed nightly.