https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the Mercedes-Benz 380. en-us Sun, 18 Oct 2026 06:13:08 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-1896166 Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT Mercedes has acknowledged and agreed to repair at their cost the defect in the subframe connections to the wheel control arms. This structural weakness, once snapped, results in the loss of control, wheels falling off and suspension components dropping to the ground. MBZ agreed to fix this issue on all R107 and C107 cars (US Models 450SL/SLC) from 1973 thru 1980- Mercedes Recall#191185120001, SIL https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-1896167 Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT Mercedes has acknowledged and agreed to repair at their cost the defect in the subframe connections to the wheel control arms. This structural weakness, once snapped, results in the loss of control, wheels falling off and suspension components dropping to the ground. MBZ agreed to fix this issue on all R107 and C107 cars (US Models 450SL/SLC) from 1973 thru 1980- Mercedes Recall#191185120001, SIL https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-1896168 Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT Mercedes has acknowledged and agreed to repair at their cost the defect in the subframe connections to the wheel control arms. This structural weakness, once snapped, results in the loss of control, wheels falling off and suspension components dropping to the ground. MBZ agreed to fix this issue on all R107 and C107 cars (US Models 450SL/SLC) from 1973 thru 1980- Mercedes Recall#191185120001, SIL https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-863223 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-807843 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT 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 & O https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-718593 Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-640596 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-597204 Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT 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 N https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-539513 Tue, 14 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-499910 Tue, 05 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS THROTTLE STICKS. ALSO, STICKS WHILE DRIVING. NO CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-490279 Thu, 12 Aug 2004 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-477769 Tue, 01 Jun 2004 00:00:00 GMT CONSUMER WAS INFORMED ON A RECALL ON VEHICLE, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *LA https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-376454 Tue, 01 Oct 2002 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-369670 Wed, 21 Aug 2002 00:00:00 GMT WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-274637 Wed, 14 Feb 2001 00:00:00 GMT 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 OVER https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-273013 Wed, 07 Feb 2001 00:00:00 GMT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED, AND THE WHOLE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, IN 1987, I BELIEVED MERCEDES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A ONE TIME ISSUE, AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A POOR DRIVER WHO HAD OWNED THE CAR PREVIOUSLY. LAST WEEK, A FRIED OF MINE, HAD A 1986, 380 SL FAIL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER MORE INVESTIGATION, I FOUND OUT THAT MERCEDES CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE TIMING COMPONENT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-267497 Thu, 18 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-225014 Mon, 14 Aug 2000 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-214220 Wed, 31 May 2000 00:00:00 GMT NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-149094 Fri, 30 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT ENGINE FIRE, CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD JUST GOT THE MUFFLER REPLACED THAT DAY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-149095 Fri, 30 Apr 1999 00:00:00 GMT ENGINE FIRE, CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD JUST GOT THE MUFFLER REPLACED THAT DAY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-135379 Thu, 11 Feb 1999 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-88301 Mon, 29 Sep 1997 00:00:00 GMT GOING 35MPH WHEN VEHICLE HIT POOL OF WATER & HYDROPLANED. RETURNED TO GROUND IN CORRECT LANE; VEHICLE HIT 2 MORE POOLS OF WATER & HYDROPLANED INTO EMBANKMENT, FRONT FIRST & THEN HIT A POLE W/DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. SPUN AROUND INTO A FENCE & NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HAVE POLICE REPORT. VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-88302 Mon, 29 Sep 1997 00:00:00 GMT GOING 35MPH WHEN VEHICLE HIT POOL OF WATER & HYDROPLANED. RETURNED TO GROUND IN CORRECT LANE; VEHICLE HIT 2 MORE POOLS OF WATER & HYDROPLANED INTO EMBANKMENT, FRONT FIRST & THEN HIT A POLE W/DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. SPUN AROUND INTO A FENCE & NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HAVE POLICE REPORT. VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-86216 Mon, 08 Sep 1997 00:00:00 GMT WHILE DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED UP, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-70204 Thu, 13 Mar 1997 00:00:00 GMT 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 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-380#complaint-2053 Wed, 08 Feb 1995 00:00:00 GMT VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING FRONTEND COLLISION AT HIGH UNKNOWN SPEED CRASHING INTO 2 VEHICLES AND MEDIAN STRIP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT