NHTSA Complaint #10086726 — 1984 MERCEDES BENZ 380

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 OF THE 450SL ENGINES, THAT THE DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME COULD SUPPORT THE ENGINE. A SEVERE CRACK HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN MY 380SL SUBFRAME IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE AND EXACT SAME TYPE AS THE CRACKS THAT OCCURRED IN THE 450SLS. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT TOTALLY UNCOMMON IN THE 380SL MODEL. I HAVE TALKED WITH "JAMES" AT MB-USA TO ASK THAT THE RECALL BE APPLIED TO MY VEHICLE AND THAT THEY PERFORM THE REPAIRS AS THEY DID FOR THE 450SLS. MY REQUEST WAS DENIED. I LEFT TWO VOICEMAIL MESSAGES AND SENT AN E-MAIL TO MB'S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARKETING MGR, ANDY NOYE. MR. NOYE HAS NOT RETURNED MY CALLS NOR RESPONDED TO MY E-MAIL. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, MB OF SAN DIEGO IS ALSO STONE-WALLING ME. I AM ONE OF THE VERY LUCKY ONES THAT THE SEVERE CRACK IN MY CAR'S SUBFRAME WAS DISCOVERED BY MY INDEPENDENT MB MECHANIC DURING A ROUTINE SERVICE. THE CRACK IS SO SEVERE THAT IT IS FAR TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AS MB REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP A RENTAL CAR INDEFINITELY, AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY INDEPENDENT MB MECHANIC TO PERFORM THE REPAIR AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2235+ TAX. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT MY INDEPENDENT MB MECHANIC RETAIN THE DEFECTIVE AND CRACKED SUBFRAME REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. MY CAR WILL BE REPAIRED BY JIM FAHEY AT MB AUTO CENTER IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA. MR. FAHEY CAN BE CONTACTED IF NECESSARY TO SUBSTANTIATE MY CLAIM AT (619) 234-5418.