Total Complaints
2 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 380 · model year
1982 MERCEDES-BENZ 380
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1982MERCEDES-BENZ380 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1982 380 is electrical system:wiring:front underhood with 1 filings, followed by suspension:front:control arm (1). 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 1982 380. 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.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060922SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
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
Mileage: 124,000
20020821FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Compare 1982MERCEDES-BENZ380 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1982 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 have?▼
The 1982 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1982 MERCEDES-BENZ 380?▼
The most-complained component for the 1982 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM.
Is the 1982 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 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.