Total Complaints
2 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ 380SL · model year
1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380SL
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985MERCEDES-BENZ380SL 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, 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 380SL is structure:frame and members:underbody shields with 1 filings, followed by suspension (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 380SL. 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
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:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20200807STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 MERCEDES BENZ 380 SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE CRACK OF THE SUBFRAME WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE. THE SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE WELD WAS CRACKED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE HOUSE OF IMPORTS (6862 AUTO CENTER DRIVE, BUENA PARK, CA 90621, 714-627-5553) AND THEY STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF $3,000. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED WITH NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT HAD HIS MECHANIC REPLACE THE DAMAGED SUBFRAME WITH A USED ONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *LN CONSUMER STATES THAT DAMAGE WAS NOT CAUSED BY NORMAL USAGE AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART PREVIOUSLY. *DL *JS
Mileage: 200,000
20200807SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 MERCEDES BENZ 380 SL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE CRACK OF THE SUBFRAME WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE. THE SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE WELD WAS CRACKED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE HOUSE OF IMPORTS (6862 AUTO CENTER DRIVE, BUENA PARK, CA 90621, 714-627-5553) AND THEY STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND QUOTED A REPAIR COST OF $3,000. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED WITH NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT HAD HIS MECHANIC REPLACE THE DAMAGED SUBFRAME WITH A USED ONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *LN CONSUMER STATES THAT DAMAGE WAS NOT CAUSED BY NORMAL USAGE AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART PREVIOUSLY. *DL *JS
Mileage: 200,000
Compare 1985MERCEDES-BENZ380SL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380SL have?▼
The 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380SL has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380SL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380SL is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION.
Is the 1985 MERCEDES-BENZ 380SL 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.