Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class failed the safety check 0.76% of the time — 57% less often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 75,431 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
48 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 88% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €138,962.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde10
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm8
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af7
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen6
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm6
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld5
- Ruitensproeierinstallatie werkt niet goed3
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
331 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 317 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
5 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 146,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 603210 | COMPLAINTS OF NO/POOR HF VOLUME ON TELEPHONE OR NO HF OPERATION ON TELEPHONE ON SOME VEHICLES. *YC |
| 603009 | VARIOUS INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF CD CHANGER AND CELULAR TELEPHONE ( CTEL ) SYSTEMS FOR 129, 170 AND OTHER MODELS. *YC |
| 602732 | INFORMATION ON TIRE MOUNTING/ DEMOUNTING PROCEDURE FOR SPORT PACKAGE WHEEL. *YC |
| 10030964 | MERCEDES: THE LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR MODELS 211, MODEL 219 AND MODELS 230 WAS EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 YEARS/50,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY APPLIES TO ALL CONDITIONS THAT JUSTIFY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT UNDER THE STANDARD WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS. *PE |
| 10030941 | MERCEDES: CRACKING NOISE FROM THE AREA OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL/FIREWALL WHEN CORNERING, DURING THROTTLE LIFT OFF AND ON UNEVEN ROADS. STRESS AT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL TO THE RIGHT OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER CAN RESULT IN CRACKING NOISES. NO RIGHT HAND DRIVE. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10030939 | MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CONSIDERATION DELAY WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10030929 | MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation