Total Complaints
1 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL · model year
1977 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1977MERCEDES-BENZ280 SL carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1977 280 SL is structure:frame and members with 1 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 1977 280 SL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100324STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1977 MERCEDES BENZ 280 WITH A CRACKED SUB-FRAME.*DT THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE SUB-FRAME HAD SERIOUS CRACKS AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. MERCEDES BENZ INFORMED THE CONSUMER HE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS A GRAY MARKET, WHICH MEANT IT WAS NOT IMPORTED TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER BUT PURCHASED IN GERMANY. *JB
Compare 1977MERCEDES-BENZ280 SL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1977 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL have?▼
The 1977 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1977 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1977 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1977 MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.