Most common 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 problems
Share of the 22 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz SL500 complaints by model year
Best SL500 years: 1995, 1998, 1996. Years to avoid: 2003. Compare all years →
What 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 owners say
Electrical system
91-96 Mercedes engine wire harness disintegrates completely to shorting out all gauges and engine operations. This is very dangerous... Deadly dangerous . This needs to be addressed and recalled immediately. We are putting together a mass group to file a class action lawsuit against the NHTSA for not demanding Mercedes to implement a recall on its deadly mistake. ( we have not lost a class action lawsuit today from 1989... Thank you in advance.
I have 1995 SL500 last 8 years having electrical issues, related to wiring harness ,misfire ,steering pump,air pump and more. I am the first owner.all the wires are deteriorating,I thnik we need NHTSA to inspect these car manufacturers.if manufacturer installed the faulty wiring they should stand up and offer repairs at the Mercedes dealers.free. Regards
Engine & cooling
Was driving car and engine started to misfire, stumble and lose power as I was crossing traffic into a side road. Almost was hit from the passenger side by a large truck that was moving at me at over 50mph. I had left plenty of time/space to do this crossing properly. However, the car almost stalled out mid way across and I could not accelerate properly to get out of the way in a timely manner.. Engine got slight surge just in time to avoid a collision. I managed to get the car to limp home. Started it up a few later and ran fine as I carefully drove it to the dealer for evaluation. Dealer mechanic found the wire insulation on the engine harness and the gas actuator where seriously deteriorated and exposing bare wires inside. Very expensive repairs costing over $3,300.00 parts and labor for these 2 repairs alone.. …
Took my car in for service as it wasn't running properly (computer codes, stalling, etc) found out that in 1995 the Mercedes Benz company put biodegradable wiring. Had to send to Germany for a new wiring harness ($1500) May have to purchase the other wiring harness in the near future ($3000). What kind of car company puts biodegradable wiring in their cars?? A Mercedes is known to last up to several hundred thousand miles, but not when the wiring starts disintegrating!! I have since found there are hundreds if not thousands of class action suits for this same matter against the Mercedes Benz company. They refuse to acknowledge the issue or the problem. Had I known of this, I would not have purchased the car in the first place!
Stability & traction control
I have a 1995 SL500 Mercedes Benz and the wires going to the brake switch caught fire, if I had not had a fire extinguisher the hole car might have caught fire also I was no going fast when the fumes started choking me and my eyes burned. I could have killed my self or someone on the road.
1995 SL500 had the sar light go on and the car went into "limp mode" and barely ran enough to get it to the service garage. The mechanic diagnosed a faulty engine wiring harness and showed me how the insulation on the wires was literally breaking away from the electrical wiring. This he said was shorting out the control module. He told me his was very common on the Mercedes of this vintage and that it was a hazard. The car only has 83,000 miles on it and my wife baby it's like her own child. It is garaged each night and I do not believe the wiring harness should have desintegrated with so few miles. It is my belief that the product is defective.
1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 a good car?
Based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1995 SL500 rates average: 78% fewer complaints than a typical year of the SL500 at the same age. It is one of the best SL500 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500?
The electrical system — 18 complaints, 82% of all complaints for this model year, most often about wiring. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and stability & traction control (3).
How many recalls does the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz SL500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1998 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003. See the full Mercedes-Benz SL500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 16% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.