Total Complaints
7 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 380 · model year
1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380
7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985MERCEDES-BENZ380 carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 1985 380 is vehicle speed control with 3 filings, followed by structure:frame and members (2) and vehicle speed control:cruise control (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 1985 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.
7
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090501STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1985 380SL SUB FRAME DEFECT ACKNOWLEDGED BY MERCEDES BENZ WITH THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 191185120001. IS THIS REPAIR STILL A RESPONSIBILITY OF MERCEDES BENZ? *TR
Mileage: 100,000
20041005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS THROTTLE STICKS. ALSO, STICKS WHILE DRIVING. NO CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Mileage: 195,000
20021001VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CONSUMER STATES AFTER PRESSING THE ACCLERATOR, THE ENGINE RACED, THREW DRIVER FORWARD AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AT A HIGH SPEED. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE PARKED IN AN ADJACENT ROW. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL SECONDS BEFORE THE IMPACT BUT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO OVERCOME THE ROARING ENGINE. MECHANIC REPLACED IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT AND IDLE VALVE. *TT
20000814STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED SUB FRAME (CAMPAIGN PROGRAM) ON THE BASIS OF AGE AND MILLAGE OF THE VEHICLE. YH
19990211VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE TOOK OFF, CAUSING THE COSNUMER TO ALMOST HIT A TREE WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. CONSUMER CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT TAKES OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ,AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
19970908VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED UP, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19970313CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OWNER STATES THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING FOOT ON BRAKE THE ENGINE HAD VERY HIGH REVS WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, OWNER HIT A SIGN. DEALERS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Compare 1985MERCEDES-BENZ380 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 have?▼
The 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 has 7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL.
Is the 1985 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.