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1984 Mercedes Benz 380

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

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: 4 of 9 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.

  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

3 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Structure complaints

3 reports
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156,066 miles · Jun 14, 2005
Structure

DT: CONSUMER FOUND A RECALL ONLINE AND CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ, AND DEALER,. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECALL, BUT REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUBFRAME BROKE, AND HE HAD IT REPAIRED BEFORE HE FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL. HE HAD IT REPAIRED AT A FIRESTONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10125290

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2004
Structure

I HAVE A 1984 MERCEDES BENZ (MB) 380SL. THIS MODEL IS EQUIPPED WITH THE EXACT SAME SUBFRAME THAT WAS INSTALLED ON THE MB 450SL MODELS. THE SUBFRAMES FOR THE 450SLS WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF IT CRACKING AND THE LEFT WHEEL COLLAPSING UNDER THE CAR OR COMING OFF ALTOGETHER WHILE DRIVING. MB MADE THE ERRONEOUS ASSUM…

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I HAVE A 1984 MERCEDES BENZ (MB) 380SL. THIS MODEL IS EQUIPPED WITH THE EXACT SAME SUBFRAME THAT WAS INSTALLED ON THE MB 450SL MODELS. THE SUBFRAMES FOR THE 450SLS WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF IT CRACKING AND THE LEFT WHEEL COLLAPSING UNDER THE CAR OR COMING OFF ALTOGETHER WHILE DRIVING. MB MADE THE ERRONEOUS ASSUMPTION THAT BECAUSE THE 380SL ENGINE WAS ALUMINUM VERSUS THE CAST IRON OF THE 450SL ENGINES, THAT THE DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME COULD SUPPORT THE ENGINE. A SEVERE CRACK HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN MY 380SL SUBFRAME IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE AND EXACT SAME TYPE AS THE CRACKS THAT OCCURRED IN THE 450SLS. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT TOTALLY UNCOMMON IN THE 380SL MODEL. I HAVE TALKED WITH "JAMES" AT MB-USA TO ASK THAT THE RECALL BE APPLIED TO MY VEHICLE AND THAT THEY PERFORM THE REPAIRS AS THEY DID FOR THE 450SLS. MY REQUEST WAS DENIED. I LEFT TWO VOICEMAIL MESSAGES AND SENT AN E-MAIL TO MB'S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARKETING MGR, ANDY NOYE. MR. NOYE HAS NOT RETURNED MY CALLS NOR RESPONDED TO MY E-MAIL. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, MB OF SAN DIEGO IS ALSO STONE-WALLING ME. I AM ONE OF THE VERY LUCKY ONES THAT THE SEVERE CRACK IN MY CAR'S SUBFRAME WAS DISCOVERED BY MY INDEPENDENT MB MECHANIC DURING A ROUTINE SERVICE. THE CRACK IS SO SEVERE THAT IT IS FAR TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AS MB REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP A RENTAL CAR INDEFINITELY, AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY INDEPENDENT MB MECHANIC TO PERFORM THE REPAIR AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2235+ TAX. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT MY INDEPENDENT MB MECHANIC RETAIN THE DEFECTIVE AND CRACKED SUBFRAME REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. MY CAR WILL BE REPAIRED BY JIM FAHEY AT MB AUTO CENTER IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA. MR. FAHEY CAN BE CONTACTED IF NECESSARY TO SUBSTANTIATE MY CLAIM AT (619) 234-5418.

NHTSA ODI #10086726

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2004
Structure

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED ON A RECALL ON VEHICLE, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10074146

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

2

EA88034 · Sudden Acceleration

Opened Jul 15, 1988 · Closed Jul 31, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY PETITIONED NHTSA TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTOSUDDEN ACCELERATION ON VARIOUS MERCEDES-BENZ MODELS.THE PETITION WASGRANTED WITH RESPECT TO THE 1986-1987 300E MODEL AND ENGINEERING ANALYSISEA88-003 WAS OPENED COVERING JUST THE 1986 AND 1987 300 E VEHICLES.SUBSEQUENTLY, CFAS REPETITIONED NHTSA TO EXPAND ITS INVESTIGATION TO COVERALL 1984 THROUGH 1987 MERCEDES GASOLINE POWERED VEHICLES.DEFECT PETITIONNUMBER DP88-013 WAS THEN ASSIGNED.ON JULY 14, 1988, THE CFAS WAS ADVISEDTHAT PETITION DP88-013 HAD BEEN GRANTED AND THAT A NEW ENGINEERING ANALYSIS(EA88-034) HAD BEEN OPENED.THE PRECEDING PETITIONS AND THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAVE BEEN MERGED INTOEA88-034.===

DP87019 · Sudden Acceleration

Opened May 22, 1987 · Closed Oct 29, 1987

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available