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1998 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 →
3Owner 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
16
19954
19966
19973
19982
19991
2000
Compare all SL320 years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
1Electrical System
1Power Train
1Seat Belts
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: 0 of 3 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

3 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2000
Electrical System

BATTERY "EXPLODED" TRYING TO START CAR. BATTTERY ACID WAS SPREYED ALL ABOUT, AND ACRID FUMES FILLED OUR GARAGE. WAS COMPENSATED $2500 BY MERCEDES AND THE DEALER OFFFERED A NEW VEHICAL "AT COST" WHICH WE ACCEPTED. WERE TOLD THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME A BATTERY HAD EXPLODED IN A ML320. THESE BATTERIES AND/OR THE IGNITION SYSTEM…

Read full complaint

BATTERY "EXPLODED" TRYING TO START CAR. BATTTERY ACID WAS SPREYED ALL ABOUT, AND ACRID FUMES FILLED OUR GARAGE. WAS COMPENSATED $2500 BY MERCEDES AND THE DEALER OFFFERED A NEW VEHICAL "AT COST" WHICH WE ACCEPTED. WERE TOLD THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME A BATTERY HAD EXPLODED IN A ML320. THESE BATTERIES AND/OR THE IGNITION SYSTEM NEED TO BE RECALLED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT IN THIS INCIDENT, BUT IT DID OCCUR IN A GARAGE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO GAS LINES AND PILOT LIGHTS FOR THE WATER HEATER AND HOME HEATING UNIT, WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THANK GOODNESS THEY DIDN'T ALL BLOW UP WITH THE BATTERY! *AK

NHTSA ODI #735940

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2000
Power TrainCrash

VEHICLE WAS SITTING ON SMALL INCLINE & SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. ROLLED BACK, JUMPED A CURVE AND WENT INTO A STREET, REARENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #860559

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Air BagsSeat Belts

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG FAILED. YH PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606840

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.