1996 Mercedes-Benz SL Class Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL Class, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Visibility
If one of the headlamp wiper arms becomes misaligned, the wiper balde can lodge in the groove under the headlamp. If the washers are activated with the wiper blade in the misaligned and lodged position, the washer pump will run continuously expelling all available fluid.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlamp washer pump on these vehicles.
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
The drive belt pulley on the engine can develop fatigue cracks in the metal and break. If the drive pulley breaks, the car would not have engine cooling, battery charging, and/or power steering.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine crankshaft damper-pulley on these vehicles.
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL Class have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 55,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2007 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My 1996 mercedes sl600 failed emissions testing because the obdii system check reported 5 monitors were "not ready". After great expense attempting to fix the problems indicated by this output, i disc”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 11, 2008 · Engine and engine cooling
“1996 mercedes benz sl 600 wiring harness failure authorized dealer reports that this is a typical failure of an older mercedes with only 60,000 miles. This failure is know through out the industry but”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 1, 2007 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (SL320, SL500, SL600). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–15 / 19–22 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Two Seaters |
| Engine | 6/8/12 cyl, 3.2/5/6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
Compare Mercedes-Benz SL Class model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz SL Class model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 2 | 2 |
| 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 2 |
| 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 0 | 12 |
| 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 3 | 9 |
| 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 3 | 3 |
| 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 2 |
| 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Class | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL Class
How do I know if my 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL Class has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL Class; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V058000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
- C3003,469 complaints
- E3502,170 complaints
- E3201,164 complaints
- ML350952 complaints
- GLK350904 complaints
- ML320742 complaints
- C250726 complaints
- C230657 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.