1984 Mercedes Benz 380: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
170,533 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 9 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 11.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 1 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Power Train: 1; Suspension: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 3
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 1; 2001: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10074146 · 2004-05-21 (May 21, 2004)
CONSUMER WAS INFORMED ON A RECALL ON VEHICLE, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086726 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125290 · 2005-06-14 (June 14, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 156,066 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204482 · 2007-09-30 (September 30, 2007)
WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVATED, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE TO HIGH SPEED BY ITSELF AND THE BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. THE ONLY OPTION IS TO SHIFT TO "NEUTRAL"AND APPLY THE BRAKES OR SWITCH -OFF THE ENGINE. IT IS MOST DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 185,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350320 · 2010-08-18 (August 18, 2010)
PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF GARAGE. TURNED OFF ENGINE, GOT OUT & DECIDED TO MOVE CAR CLOSER TO GARAGE. PUT ON SEAT BELT, RESTARTED CAR, PUT FOOT ON BRAKE, & SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET, SMASHED THROUGH GARAGE DOOR, THROUGH STRUCTURAL BEAMS & OUT THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING LANDING ON THE GROUND WITH FRONT OF CAR. ENGINE WAS STILL ROARING & I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION & OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR TO GET OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,225 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10408514 · 2011-06-22 (June 22, 2011)
CAR: 1984 MERCEDES 380SL I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD A CLUNK. I KEPT DRIVING INTO MY CARPORT (GARAGE), AND I LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO SEE IF I COULD SEE ANYTHING. I HAD SOMEONE ELSE LOOK AT IT, AND WE DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME THAT HOLDS THE LOWER A-ARM WAS BROKEN, AND THE A-ARM HANGING BY ONLY ONE END. THE MODELS 350SL-450SL CURRENTLY HAVE A RECALL, AND SO MUST 380SL BECAUSE IT SHARES THE SAME SUBFRAME DEFECT AS THE OTHERS. NOT ONLY IS THIS A COSTLY REPAIR, BUT IT IS AN DANGEROUS ONE, AS IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 215,095 miles reported. Look up ODI 10408514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 740739 · 2001-02-11 (February 11, 2001)
IN 1993 I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING IF AT ANY SPEED. I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER. IT WOULD RESTART AND I COULD PROCEED. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMETIMES I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS APPROACHING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BY MERCEDES-BENZ AND I TOOK IT IN. THEY REPLACED THE INGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND OVERLOAD PROTECTION RELAY. IN JULY 2000, I HAD THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN AGAIN. IT WAS VERY INTERMITTEN BUT FINALLY I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER IN NASHVIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 878459 · 2001-01-18 (January 18, 2001)
CAR WAS IDLING INTO DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER PUT CAR IN REVERSE, AND IT TOOK OFF IN REVERSE, LIKE PEDAL WAS STUCK. CONSUMER TRIED EVERYTHING TO STOP VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT. CONSUMER LANDED IN BETWEEN TWO TREES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 878459 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.