Total Complaints
2 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 380 SL · model year
1984 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 SL
2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1984MERCEDES-BENZ380 SL carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 1984 380 SL is service brakes with 1 filings, followed by vehicle speed 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 1984 380 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.
2
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20151109CrashSERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 MERCEDES 380 SL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A TRAFFIC SIGN, A PARKED VEHICLE, AND A WATER MAIN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE MEDIAN AT WHICH POINT THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED TO THE OFF POSITION AND ENABLED THE DRIVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED LACERATIONS TO THE FACE, WHICH DID REQUIRE MINOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 12/01/15*LJ *TR
Mileage: 80,000
20151109CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 MERCEDES 380 SL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A TRAFFIC SIGN, A PARKED VEHICLE, AND A WATER MAIN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE MEDIAN AT WHICH POINT THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED TO THE OFF POSITION AND ENABLED THE DRIVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED LACERATIONS TO THE FACE, WHICH DID REQUIRE MINOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 12/01/15*LJ *TR
Mileage: 80,000
Compare 1984MERCEDES-BENZ380 SL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1984 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 SL have?▼
The 1984 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 SL has 2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1984 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 SL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1984 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 SL is SERVICE BRAKES with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1984 MERCEDES-BENZ 380 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.