Well I am starting to think that electric problems seem to be the 380's archilles heel. Well engineered and reliable from a drivetrain, suspension, brake, body point of view. However, I wonder how much Mitsubishi tried to save in electrical parts? The really important parts like ABS/traction control, engine management seem to be quite good but this is mostly Bosch gear.

My 2007 380 GT. 76000km. In last year:

2 window regulators (only recently)
Indicator stalk
Fan speed controller/resister
Lights around gear selector
Passenger side central locking intermittent
Rear demister (I just put up with it)
Speedo needle has dropped to 0 km/hr a few times (for a few seconds)
One of the horns died today

(I haven't had the ignition switch issue yet.)

I'm not complaining as I think it is a good car but might have been better with better quality electrics. Just seems to have all happened recently but at least reasonably cheap and easy to fix onself. My TJ Magna has been better in this regard.

What do other people think? How do they compare with Commodores or Falcons of similar age in regards to frequency of elecrical issues?

Maybe I am more unucky then most?

Is the 380 British at heart?............maybe there are some secret Lucus parts lurking in there.........?

At least it keeps me busy on days off :)

Add reversing sensors to the list today.

Go figure

Replaced the front driver's regulator in my father's 380 yesterday. 25 minutes for the entire job. Did it whilst I gravity drained his brake fluid. Good thing is the things that tend to go are so easy to replace (mostly).

I was thinking of getting rid of mine but after a B road country drive on the weekend I'm going to keep it. So good on twisty, bumpy country roads! I'll put up with the odd window regulator or indicator stalk for that.

All cars have their own list of predominant problems that occur at some point during the car's life.
I'm really surprised at how little problems occur with these cars, especially major ones!
As you said, I'm more than happy to put up with a couple regulators and indicator stalk.

Electrical problems. Is this the beginning of a trend as they get on in years??

No, I don't think so.

I also have a 75,000km 2007 M380 which exhibits NONE of those defects.

Except of course the window regulators, but from what the dealer told me, the part which fails is not the electrics - but some piece of plastic. Apparently the replacement ones are manufactured in the states and have a metal piece rather than plastic to prevent recurrence. Or the dealer was talking out his ****.

Either way, my replacements have both lasted longer than the originals did.

No, I don't think so.

I also have a 75,000km 2007 M380 which exhibits NONE of those defects.

Except of course the window regulators, but from what the dealer told me, the part which fails is not the electrics - but some piece of plastic. Apparently the replacement ones are manufactured in the states and have a metal piece rather than plastic to prevent recurrence. Or the dealer was talking out his ****.

Either way, my replacements have both lasted longer than the originals did.

Yes the original rear regulators at least were plastic and were quite common to fail, the replacements have been metal for quite some time now and are far more reliable.

The electrics in mine were put in at 4:30 pm on Friday ;)

No, I don't think so. I also have a 75,000km 2007 M380 which exhibits NONE of those defects. Except of course the window regulators, but from what the dealer told me, the part which fails is not the electrics - but some piece of plastic. Apparently the replacement ones are manufactured in the states and have a metal piece rather than plastic to prevent recurrence. Or the dealer was talking out his ****. Either way, my replacements have both lasted longer than the originals did.

Yes, cable failure on rears and motor failure on fronts although these respond to a sharp tap, at least temporally. Right rear seems to be most common. Most be something to go with the forces on the plastic part on this side.

As Mal has said, originals Korean, replacements US although they look almost identical.

At least they are cheap. I was talking to someone yesterday who was looking at nearly $400 each for landrover ones and he needed two......

Left hand rear regulator went today so everything that goes wrong with the 380 has gone on mine now. Should have an excellent run now!

So all up in repairs now.

3 window regulators - $370
Fan speed controller - $135
Indicator stalk - $120
Front wheel hub - $160
Labour above - $140
Horn repair - free (loose wire)
Other things like gear surround lights - no big deal, just put up with them. Central locking hasn't played up in a few weeks and speedo has also behaved itself.

TOTAL - $935
Over 5 years = $185 a year

Not too bad really. I voided my warranty at the 3 year mark as the only local dealer (within 100km) refused to fix the noisy drivetrain after 6 attempts, despite me suggesting they check the right front wheel bearing. I then started servicing the car myself so some of these issues should have been fixed under warranty. I am still about $1000 ahead in total running costs not having to pay for dealer servicing.

Overall happy enough but not as smooth sailing as our TF Magna. It had no warranty claims and no repairs in the first 10 years. Mind you it had windup windows and not much equipment to go wrong!

Like you say you must just have a Friday afternoon model. Touch wood, I've had my 2005 380 for about 15 months and 43,000km and the only electrical issue I've had is the transmission lights (which was fixed without too much hassle by Kif at MM recently).

probably an ex rental car?

No. Drivetrain issues would be more an issue on an ex-rental.

I just got the new rear left regulator. This one is a Denso brand (at least the motor is). Fingers crossed

Dare I say it , this car hasn't had flood damage by any chance has it? Seems like a lot of electrical problems for a low km car.

The car is not flood damaged. No rust, no dirt, no mud anywhere (and Ive had heaps of stuff apart). The issues are all 380 problems. I just had them all at once it seems. Has been great since the last window regulator and not much else to go wrong now...

I'll add, (06sx 85k no upgrades) 1 x regulator, the '+' on the gear selector is mucking up for the second time and my lumbar support just broke. Otherwise mechanically I've had a fuel vapour purge valve replaced under warranty - that fixed a loud ticking - and now apparently need a tranny mount replaced. Bit odd for such a low k car but hey.

Mine has now run trouble free for most of the year. Seems to have settled into its "mid-life" happily.

I40 not so lucky.....

I don't think it is a trend - they are very reliable cars from what I can see. Mine is a 2005 model and it has been mostly trouble free:

* 2 x rear window regulators (easily fixed, 1 was under warranty and the other I fixed myself cheap)
* 1 cruise control switch (under warranty)
* bluetooth buzzing (under warranty)
* parking sensors playing up
* brake squeal (under warranty but I later changed rotors and pads as the noise came back)

That's a pretty good record for a 8 year old car.