Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control5
- Structure2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 failed the safety check 1.09% of the time — 43% more often than the average 1985 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 90,310 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
69 first registered in 1985 are on Dutch roads; 86% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen11
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan9
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm8
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af7
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde7
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij6
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm6
- Band onvoldoende profiel5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In New Zealand
12 1985 cars are on the New Zealand register; 50% arrived as used imports, 25% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
NHTSA investigations
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation