NHTSA Complaint #11343867 — 1985 MERCEDES BENZ 380SL

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