1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500, and owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500
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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Air bags: frontal
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module.
9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 114,409 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Vehicle has approx. 209k miles. Sunday 1/19/20 driving wb on montauk highway (nys 27a?) at quogue ny. Speed approx. 35-40 MPH. Slight turn/bend in road to the right. Sunny, dry pavement. No other cars”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 23, 2020 · Air bags
“Wiring insulation for lights and power steering deteriorated to the point of causing massive shorts in multiple systems, draining the battery and resulting in engine failure at highway speeds. I maneu”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 27, 2013 · Steering
Compare Mercedes-Benz SL500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz SL500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 2 |
| 1993 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 6 |
| 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 8 |
| 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 22 |
| 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 6 |
| 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 1 | 9 |
| 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 6 |
| 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 2 |
| 2000 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 2 |
| 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 3 |
| 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 80 |
| 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 45 |
| 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 19 |
| 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 13 |
| 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL500 | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500
How do I know if my 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 Mercedes-Benz SL500; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 99V327000).
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.
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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.