AI DamageMercedes-Benz 420SEL: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz 420SEL across 1 model years: 1 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
| Year | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) | YouTube repair videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What fails most often
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (100% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While the vehicle was idling at a stop, the gear did not shift into drive or reverse and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.