Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
118,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 to 1992 model years. Data updated: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues
3
27.3%
Engine operation
2
18.2%
Braking behavior
1
9.1%
Steering behavior
1
9.1%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Tires
3
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
Electrical System
1
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
Tires:Sidewall
1
Vehicle Speed Control
1
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Tires
3
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
Electrical System
1
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Tires leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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! LOOKS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH 91-96 VARIOUS MODELS WITH THEIR WIRING HARNESSES. *TR
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE, MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AFFECTED. 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. MB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS, ALTHOUGH I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY MERCEDES OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. CALLS TO MERCEDES BENZ NEVER GET ME ANYWHERE. THEY ARE RUDE AND ONLY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANOTHER BENZ WITH A…
PROBLEMS WITH MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW AND SPONGY. A MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN INSTALL MAY 2003. IN ADDITION THE ARS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART ITSELF AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD RISE FROM ZERO TO THE CORRECT SETTING. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL COMPLETELY BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE KEY AND RESTARTED IT AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THERE W…
SEAT CONTROL ADJUSTER ENGAGED SPONTANEOUSLY AND MOVED COMPLETELY FORWARD WHILE THE VEHICLE (1992 MERCEDES BENZ, 500 SL) WAS TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH ON BELTWAY EN ROUTE TO BWI, PINNING MY WIFE AGAINST STEERING WHEEL, ANFD FORCING HER TO DRIVE ONTO THE FAST LANE SHOULDER. *AK
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
11 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
54.5%Usable mileage6 / 11 records
81.8%Valid incident date9 / 11 records
100.0%Valid filing date11 / 11 records
81.8%Ordered incident and filing dates9 / 11 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
1990
1991
1992
Tires
133.3%ODI 10344630 · 81,740 mi
PIRELLI TIRES (4) BOUGHT 6/13/10. MY LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A THREE LANE HIGHWAY ON 7/21/10 (38 DAYS LATER). LUCKILY I WAS ON IN THE RIGHT LANE AND BARELY MADE IT TO AN EXIT LANE. THE TIRE IS PIRELLI FOUR SEASONS P6. 225/55R15 I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE BOUGHT FROM MR. TIRE IN ANNAPOLIS. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES. THE POLICEMAN CAME BY AND TOLD ME TO GET MY CAR OFF THE EXIT--HE DID NOT EVEN GET OUT OF HIS CAR TO SEE IF I WAS ALRIGHT.. I HAD ALREADY CALLED AAA PLUS TO TOW MY …
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED 3 TIRE BLOW OUTS.*MR (NAR) APPROX 3 OUT OF 4 TIRES HAVE FAILED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST. *CB23.505 *JB
UPON DISASSEMBLY OF THE INTAKE SYSTEM OF MY CAR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED - THE INSULATION USED ON THE WIRING HAD BECOME HARD AND BRITTLE, CAUSING MULTIPLE SHORTS AND PREVENTING IT FROM BEING RE-INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TOTAL COST APPROXIMATELY $1100. *JB
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE, MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AFFECTED. 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. MB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS, ALTHOUGH I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY MERCEDES OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. CALLS TO MERCEDES BENZ NEVER GET ME ANYWHERE. THEY ARE RUDE AND ONLY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANOTHER BENZ WITH A…
SEAT CONTROL ADJUSTER ENGAGED SPONTANEOUSLY AND MOVED COMPLETELY FORWARD WHILE THE VEHICLE (1992 MERCEDES BENZ, 500 SL) WAS TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH ON BELTWAY EN ROUTE TO BWI, PINNING MY WIFE AGAINST STEERING WHEEL, ANFD FORCING HER TO DRIVE ONTO THE FAST LANE SHOULDER. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
120.0%ODI 10083397 · 8,913 mi
PROBLEMS WITH MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW AND SPONGY. A MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN INSTALL MAY 2003. IN ADDITION THE ARS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART ITSELF AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD RISE FROM ZERO TO THE CORRECT SETTING. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL COMPLETELY BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE KEY AND RESTARTED IT AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THERE W…
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! LOOKS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH 91-96 VARIOUS MODELS WITH THEIR WIRING HARNESSES. *TR
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE RAIN AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, IMPAIRING VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND AT A STAND STILL. *AK
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Tires
Too few reports for a range
81,740 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10344630 · 81,740 mi
PIRELLI TIRES (4) BOUGHT 6/13/10. MY LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A THREE LANE HIGHWAY ON 7/21/10 (38 DAYS LATER). LUCKILY I WAS ON IN THE RIGHT LANE AND BARELY MADE IT TO AN EXIT LANE. THE TIRE IS PIRELLI FOUR SEASONS P6. 225/55R15 I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE BOUGHT FROM MR. TIRE IN ANNAPOLIS. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES. THE POLICEMAN CAME BY AND TOLD ME TO GET MY CAR OFF THE EXIT--HE DID NOT EVEN GET OUT OF HIS CAR TO SEE IF I WAS ALRIGHT.. I HAD ALREADY CALLED AAA PLUS TO TOW MY …
UPON DISASSEMBLY OF THE INTAKE SYSTEM OF MY CAR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED - THE INSULATION USED ON THE WIRING HAD BECOME HARD AND BRITTLE, CAUSING MULTIPLE SHORTS AND PREVENTING IT FROM BEING RE-INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TOTAL COST APPROXIMATELY $1100. *JB
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE, MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AFFECTED. 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. MB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS, ALTHOUGH I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY MERCEDES OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. CALLS TO MERCEDES BENZ NEVER GET ME ANYWHERE. THEY ARE RUDE AND ONLY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANOTHER BENZ WITH A…
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Too few reports for a range
8,913 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10083397 · 8,913 mi
PROBLEMS WITH MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW AND SPONGY. A MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN INSTALL MAY 2003. IN ADDITION THE ARS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART ITSELF AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD RISE FROM ZERO TO THE CORRECT SETTING. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL COMPLETELY BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE KEY AND RESTARTED IT AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THERE W…
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! LOOKS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH 91-96 VARIOUS MODELS WITH THEIR WIRING HARNESSES. *TR
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1991: 0 complaints · 1992: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1991
0
0
0
1992
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
1991
3
0
0
1992
5
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Tires
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Electrical System
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Tires:Sidewall
Vehicle Speed Control
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
Tires
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
Electrical System
0
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
0
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
Tires:Sidewall
0
0
0
0
0
—
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
0
0
0
0
0
0
—
0
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
—
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
2 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
2 mentions · 18.2% of complaints
Median mileage: 110,457 mi (2 usable records).
ODI 10290278 · 212,000 mi
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE, MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AFFECTED. 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. MB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS, ALTHOUGH I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY MERCEDES OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. CALLS TO MERCEDES BENZ NEVER GET ME ANYWHERE. THEY ARE RUDE AND ONLY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANOTHER BENZ WITH A…
PROBLEMS WITH MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW AND SPONGY. A MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN INSTALL MAY 2003. IN ADDITION THE ARS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART ITSELF AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD RISE FROM ZERO TO THE CORRECT SETTING. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL COMPLETELY BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE KEY AND RESTARTED IT AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THERE W…
Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b
Brake response concerns
1 mentions · 9.1% of complaints
Median mileage: 8,913 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10083397 · 8,913 mi
PROBLEMS WITH MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW AND SPONGY. A MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN INSTALL MAY 2003. IN ADDITION THE ARS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART ITSELF AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD RISE FROM ZERO TO THE CORRECT SETTING. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL COMPLETELY BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE KEY AND RESTARTED IT AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THERE W…