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1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

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The Verdict

Worst problem area

Visibility & Lighting

Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 5 of 21 complaints (24%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Transmission & Drivetrain include more crash reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed rose from 20 in 1997 to 21 in 1998.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category19961997199819992000vs. 1998 Two Seaters
Annual fuel cost ($)4,300–5,5504,300–5,5504,550–5,5504,550–5,5504,550–5,550
Combined MPG14–1814–1814–1714–1714–17
City / Highway MPG12–15 / 19–2212–16 / 19–2212–14 / 18–2112–14 / 17–2112–14 / 18–21
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)494–635494–635523–635523–635523–635
Complaints filed12202144Not compared
Recalls issued43111Not compared
Crash-involved complaints12101Not compared
Fire-involved complaints12010Not compared
Injuries reported15000Not compared
Deaths reported00000Not compared
Configurations compared33222

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

Visibility & Lighting: 5 of 21 NHTSA complaints (24%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class get?

EPA rates it 14–17 MPG combined across 2 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class?

EPA estimates $4,550–$5,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

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EPA-Rated Configurations (2)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 5-spd85.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumTwo Seaters14 mpg (high)21 mpg (high)17 mpg (high)$4,550 (low)523 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2Automatic 5-spd126.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumTwo Seaters12 mpg (low)18 mpg (low)14 mpg (low)$5,550 (high)635 g/mi (high)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine00000
Transmission & Drivetrain21000
Fuel System40000
Electrical30000
Brakes40000
Steering00000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires40000
Airbags & Restraints10000
Driver Assistance & Speed Control00000
Body, Seats & Latches30000
Visibility & Lighting50000
Other30000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (1)

  • WHEELS · Campaign 06E014000 · Feb 13, 2006

    Defect: CERTAIN ZF TRADING NORTH AMERICA AFTERMARKET WHEEL BEARING KITS, LEMFOERDER P/N 1402301, SOLD FOR INSTALLATION ON 1992-2001 MERCEDES BENZ SL500 (R129) VEHICLES AFTER APRIL 1, 2005. THE CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS USED IN THE WHEEL BEARING KIT MAY BE DEFECTIVE, SHEAR OFF AND BREAK. IF BOTH CALIPER MOUNTING BOLTS BREAK, THE BRAKE CALIPER MAY BECOME UNFIXED AND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKED, THE BRAKE ROTOR COULD DRAG THE CALIPER, CAUSING THE BRAKE HOSE TO RUPTURE AND THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED.

    Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    Remedy: ZF TRADING WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND REPAIR THE WHEEL BEARING KITS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 27, 2006.