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1982 Mercedes Benz 380

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19812
19821
19839
19847
1985
Compare all 380 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Suspension
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

2 reports
124,000 miles · Sep 22, 2006
Suspension

MY MB 380 SL HAD A LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE AS I WAS ENTERING MY GARAGE. ON THE INTERNET I FOUND "KEITH MARTINS SPORTS CAR MARKET" THAT EXPLAINED MERCEDES HAS A STANDING RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR CRACKS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTING POINTS AND THAT ANY MB DEALER CAN TELL IF IT HAS BEEN PERFORMED AND UPDATED. …

Read full complaint

MY MB 380 SL HAD A LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE AS I WAS ENTERING MY GARAGE. ON THE INTERNET I FOUND "KEITH MARTINS SPORTS CAR MARKET" THAT EXPLAINED MERCEDES HAS A STANDING RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR CRACKS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTING POINTS AND THAT ANY MB DEALER CAN TELL IF IT HAS BEEN PERFORMED AND UPDATED. MINE IS NOT ONLY CRACKED BUT BROKEN ALL THE WAY SO THAT THE WHEEL IS NOT SUPPORTED. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY ACCIDENT HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY. BARIER MOTORS AND PHIL SMART MOTORS IN BELLEVUE AND SEATTLE REFUSE TO DO THE REPAIR FOR FREE AND SAY THERE IS NO RECALL. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP IN SEATTLE SAYS THIS DESIGN ERROR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE 380 SL WAS DESIGNED. I HAVE TRIED TO GET AN ANSWER FROM THE MERCEDES COMPANY AND HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING. PLEASE HELP. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10168980

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016871

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.