1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 Problems
- Complaints
- 7filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 147,500miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 15 mpgcombined, 3.8L 8-cyl RWD · 14 city / 17 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 5 complaints (71% of the total), followed by body and structure (2). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 147,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Body and structure2 29%
Example complaints
Vehicle speed control: “Consumer states after pressing the acclerator, the engine raced, threw driver forward and the vehicle accelerated in reverse at a high speed. Vehicle crashed into a vehicle parked in an adjacent row. Driver attempted to reach the brake pedal seconds before the impact but did not have time to overcome the roaring engine. Mechanic replaced idle speed control unit and idle valve.”
NHTSA complaint #567549, filed 2002-09Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 100,000 and 195,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 380SE RWD | 3.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 14 | 17 | 15 | $4,450 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380.
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz 380
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 7 | 147,500 | 0 | — | 15 | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 9 | 170,533 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Mercedes-Benz 380 model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 have?
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 is reported most often?
Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 5 complaints (71% of the total), followed by body and structure with 2.
Has the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 get?
The EPA rates the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 (380SE, 3.8L 8-cyl) at 15 mpg combined, 14 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,450 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380 reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 147,500 miles and the middle half falls between 100,000 and 195,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.