NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz 500SEL

Data refreshed June 25, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mercedes-Benz 500SEL.

Complaints

99

Active records

Recalls

6

Active records

TSBs

14

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

3

Injuries

5

Crashes

5

Fires

2

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz 500SEL

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

101

Operating state

73

Reporting mechanism

63

Engine behavior

44

Electrical issue

39

Safety restraint issue

37

Ride/handling behavior

33

Safety restraint behavior

21

Performance issue

20

Thermal issue

19

Fluid issue

17

Access/entry issue

15

Braking behavior

14

Driver assistance issue

12

Powering on/off behavior

12

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

12

Lighting behavior

10

HVAC behavior

9

Steering behavior

9

Starting behavior

7

Smell

6

Infotainment behavior

4

Noise

4

Vibration/harshness

4

Recent change

2

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

1992 MERCEDES BENZ 500SEL

Filed Sep 20, 2016


ENGINE WIRE HARNESS FAILURE DUE TO BAD INSULATION/BIODEGRADABLE INSULATOR COVER RESULTING IN VEHICLE STOP WHEN A ASR LIGHT COME ON AND CAUSING POSSIBLE FIRE OR ACCIDENT WHILE THE CAR STOP SHILE IS IN MOVEMENT,VERY DANGEROUS I STOP TO DRIVE THIS CAR 4 YEARS AGO/// REVERSE GEAR JUST STOP WORK DUE TO THE BIG DEFECT FROM FACORY A BEEN SEE TONS OF CARS WITH EXACLTU THE SAME PROBLEMS.

1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500

Filed Feb 13, 2016


WIRE HARNESS DEFECT CAUSING SHORT IN SYSTEM SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER CUTTING OTHER DRIVERS OFF JUST TO GET VEHICLE IN A SAFE AND SECURED LOCATION.

2003 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed May 31, 2014


IN JUNE 2012 THE CAR DID NOT PASS INSPECTION AND WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED A NEW GAS CAP. WE GOT A GAS CAP AND IT PASSED INSPECTION. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED COMPLETELY. IF WE ONLY FILL THE GAS TANK ABOUT 3/4 OR LESS, THERE IS NO GAS SMELL. WE RECENTLY HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THE MECHANIC TOLD US THE GAS CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND A SEAL/CAP IN AN OVERFILL TANK UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS LOOSE. WE REPLACED THE GAS CAP AGAIN AND THE CAP TO THE…

2003 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed May 31, 2014


THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT EXTEND OUT AND DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING HOT WEATHER. *TR

2003 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed Apr 3, 2014


WAS GOING DOWN ROAD AND FRONT STRUT BOTTOMED OUT BECAUSE OF AIR BELLOW FAILURE IN AIR LEVELING SYSTEM .MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM! *TR

1995 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed Apr 22, 2013


DETERIORATED ENGINE HARNESS WIRING CAUSING FORCED LIMP MODE AND OTHER GREMLINS. *TR

2003 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed Apr 11, 2013


BROUGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION STICKER, WAS TOLD THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MALFUNCTION THAT ALLOWED GAS VAPORS TO ESCAPE FROM TANK. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NO FAULT OF MY OWN BUT TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED TO PASS INSPECTION!!! THE CAR WAS NOT MISUSED OR DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR ABUSED, OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART MERCEDES PUT IN THEIR CARS AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. CHARGED $1,400 FOR REPAIRS. *TR

1995 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed Sep 12, 2012


I OWN A BEAUTIFUL BLACK 1995 S500 MERCEDES BENZ WITH 142,000 MILES. AS YOU KNOW, THE MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATION KNOWINGLY INSTALLED A BIO-DEGRADABLE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IN MODELS '91-'96. THESE ENGINE WIRE HARNESSES, WERE PURPOSELY INSTALLED AND DESIGNED TO BREAKDOWN AND DISINTEGRATE. BECAUSE OF THIS FLAWED DECISION, I NOW FACE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS. AFTER RESEARCHING MY VEHICLE'S DIAGNOSIS, I DISCOVERED THAT MERCEDES CORPORATION KNEW THE HORRIFIC, DETRIMENTAL HAZARDS AND IMMENSE…

1996 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed May 3, 2012


WHEN IT RAINS THE CAR SHAKES AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN, DUE TO A HARNESS PROBLEM. DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM THE SPEED OF THE CAR IT STARTS TO SLOWS DOWN BEFORE THE ENGINE DIES OUT AND WHEN I TRY TO CLOSE OR OPEN THE WINDOW IT WOULD DO IT SLOWLY, NOT AT NORMAL SPEED. ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM, THERE'S A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE. *TR

2000 MERCEDES BENZ 500

Filed Mar 30, 2012


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE INSERTED IN THE IGNITION BUT COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

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

Updated June 25, 2026. Refreshed nightly.