AI Damage1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about equipment and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
What fails most often
- 1 Equipment 25% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 17% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 17% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
- 7 Latches, locks, linkages 8% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- Equipment: 3 complaints (25% of all).
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (25% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Visibility: 2 complaints (17% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 6 L · petrol · 12 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 12 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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.
Purchased new michelin sport tires dot gudl 275/35 zr 18 on11/3/2010 and found out that the manufacturing date was 1107. These tires were over 3 years old and should have not been sold as new. The tire dealer accepted my complaint and replaced them with 0909 tires.
Purchased 1998 mercedes benz sl 600 from mbz san francisco dealership on 4/22/09. Immediately reported excessive and dangerous bouncing of front end. Reported defect dealer took no action. Took car to mbz of oakland where they diagnosed bad front suspension pressure cells which clearly existed at time of sale.
The brake warning light never illuminated to indicate a problem. The consumer requested a refund for a portion of the repair cost. Ph
Hard top. Cd player. Phone. Wood trim paint. Most problems have been dealer errors.
Vacuum failed resulting in leakage and the check engine light coming on.
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 10,160 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SL Class has 4 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 12, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: equipment, fuel system, service brakes. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (17%), A/C or heater (8%), fuel system, fuel smell (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class?
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 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL Class 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 1998 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.