1984 MERCEDES BENZ 380 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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 IT SHARES THE SAME SUBFRAME DEFECT AS THE OTHERS. NOT ONLY IS THIS A COSTLY REPAIR, BUT IT IS AN DANGEROUS ONE, AS IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING I WOULD MIGHT HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, AND MIGHT HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THERE ARE 3 OTHER REPORTS HERE: HTTP://WWW.PEACHPARTS.COM/SHOPFORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-191764.HTML THERE IS 1 MORE REPORT HERE: HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/R-C107-SL-SLC-CLASS/1594298-SUBFRAME-MY-380SL-CRACKED-BOTH-SIDES.HTML THERE'S ANOTHER ONE HERE: HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/MERCEDES/4H5VI-MERCEDES-BENZ-380SL-NEED-REPLACE-SUB-FRAME.HTML THERE'S ANOTHER 1 HERE: HTTP://HOME.ALLII.COM/THREAD-33268-1-1.HTML THERE MORE HERE: HTTP://WWW.ALLWORLDAUTO.COM/COMMENTS/MERCEDES_BENZ_380_COMMENTS_AND_COMPLAINTS_113-33690-1.HTML. *TR

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 & OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR TO GET OUT. *TR

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

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

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.