AI Damage1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 67% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 33% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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.
Car will sputter, stall, not restart. Happens while going down the road, turning corners, coming to a stop, while trying to accelerate from a stop.... The engine wiring harness has bare wires all over the place.
While driving, my 1991 500sl convertible for no apparent reason will not accelerate and the asr light comes on. If I shut down and restart it goes away but will come right back if I goose the gas at all. This happens a lot!
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 500SL has 3 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 3, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (33%), warning lights, check engine (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1991 models
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 2026-11-05.