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1996 Mercedes Benz SL320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
199416
19954
19966
19973
19982
1999
Compare all SL320 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

4 reports
138,500 miles · Jan 22, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTERGRATING. CAR RUNS VERY ROUGH. VISIBLE BARE WIRES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF. SMELLS OF BURNING WIRE.

NHTSA ODI #10495382

145,000 miles · Jul 12, 2011
Electrical System

MY CAR APPEARS TO OVER HEAT, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY JUST THE TEMP GAUGE JUMPING AROUND ERRATICALLY. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT'S THE WIRING HARNESS - A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THESE CARS WHICH IS BEING IGNORED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10412007

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1998
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. QCAW

NHTSA ODI #605222

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL : JUNE 07. GAS LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE NEAR BACK WHEEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. JUNE 11, TOOK TO MERCEDES DEALER TO HAVE CHECKED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. *AKTHEY STATED THAT IT IS AN UNDERCOATIING THAT IS LEAKING AND NOT OIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813109

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.