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1997 Mercedes Benz Sl500 Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Serious

13 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 2.85 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious06E014000

Wheels

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & full details

ZF TRADING WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND REPAIR THE WHEEL BEARING KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 27, 2006.

CERTAIN ZF TRADING NORTH AMERICA AFTERMARKET WHEEL BEARING KITS, LEMFOERDER P/N 1402301, SOLD FOR INSTALLATION ON 1992-2001 MERCEDES BENZ SL500 (R129) VEHICLES AFTER APRIL 1, 2005. THE CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS USED IN THE WHEEL BEARING KIT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, SHEAR OFF AND BREAK. IF BOTH CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS BREAK, THE BRAKE CALIPER MAY BECOME UNFIXED AND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKED, THE BRAKE ROTOR COULD DRAG THE CALIPER, CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE TO RUPTURE AND THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED.

Serious99V327000

Air Bags:Frontal

CORROSION OF THE IGNITION FILAMENT CAN RESULT IN THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG BEING DEPLOYED UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CORROSION OF THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION FILAMENT OF THE AIR BAG GAS GENERATOR MODULE CAN OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN AREAS OF FREQUENTLY HIGH HUMIDITY.

Complaint volume

13 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

3Crashes
1Fires
7Injuries
0Deaths

Across 13 complaints. Severity Index 2.85.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Air Bags · Side/Window2 · 15%Air Bags2 · 15%Structure · Body · Door1 · 8%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 8%Power Train1 · 8%Air Bags · Frontal1 · 8%Electrical System · Wiring1 · 8%Steering1 · 8%
  1. Air Bags:Side/Window — 2 reports
  2. Air Bags — 2 reports
  3. Structure:Body:Door — 1 reports
  4. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components — 1 reports
  5. Power Train — 1 reports
  6. Air Bags:Frontal — 1 reports
  7. Electrical System:Wiring — 1 reports
  8. Steering — 1 reports
  9. Engine — 1 reports
  10. Seat Belts — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (1) · 1996 (1) · 1997 · 1998 (1) · 1999 (1) · 2000 (1) · 2001 (1) · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2009

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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