Mercedes-Benz Recalls Nearly 300,000 More 2010-2017 Vehicles for Takata Airbag Defects

Sandy Springs, GA – February 28, 2019 – Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (OTCMKTS:DDAIF) is recalling 288,775 vehicles equipped with potentially explosive Takata airbags. The recall includes the following models:

  • 2010-2011 Mercedes-Benz C300
  • 2010-2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic
  • 2010-2014 Mercedes-Benz C350
  • 2010-2014 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
  • 2010-2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe
    2010-2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic
  • 2010-2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 RWD
    2011-2014 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic
  • 2011-2014 Mercedes-Benz C350
  • 2011-2014 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
  • 2011-2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabrio
  • 2011-2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe
  • 2011-2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe
  • 2011-2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Cabrio
    2011-2017 Mercedes-Benz E550 Cabrio
  • 2011-2017 Mercedes-Benz E550 Coupe
    2012-2014 Mercedes-Benz C250
  • 2012-2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Coupe
  • 2012-2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Cabrio
    2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe
  • 2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz C350 4Matic Coupe
  • 2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz C350 Coupe
  • 2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe
    2013-2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK250 BlueTec
  • 2013-2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK250 4Matic
    2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe
  • 2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz C350 4Matic Coupe
  • 2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz C350 Coupe
  • 2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe
  • 2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 vehicles
    2015-2017 Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic Coupe
  • 2015-2017 Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabrio
  • 2015-2017 Mercedes-Benz E400 Coupe

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Safety Report filed on January 9th, non-desiccated ammonium nitrate was used in the air bag inflators in the passenger side air bags of these vehicles. The inflator, if deployed in a degraded state, can explode, with its debris potentially striking any occupants and leading to injury or death.

The issues with these Takata air bags have been well documented, and this latest Mercedes-Benz announcement is part of a massive worldwide recall of vehicles with Takata air bags, deployed in segments, with vehicles at highest risk being recalled first. The potential for rupture can be affected by climates that are extreme in regard to heat and humidity, particularly in the southern U.S. states and territories.

Degradation speed may also be affected by other factors, including the specific environment in which a vehicle is kept and operated, the individual inflator and propellant configuration, and manufacturing variability from facility to facility. The common thread is the inflators housed in the Takata airbags and installed in the passenger side of the front of the car.

While the NHTSA has determined that all Takata air bags with this defect will eventually become dangerous, the defect is not considered high-risk until degradation occurs, which can take years even in climates with temperature cycling and absolute humidity. All manufacturers have agreed to comply with the recall in stages to allow new air bag supplies to be manufactured and distributed to dealers.

Timeline of Events

On Jan. 2, 2019, Takata filed another Defect Information Report with NHTSA according to the previous schedule in the May 4, 2016 Amendment to the Coordinated Remedy Order, announcing a defect in some of the subject inflators. Daimler AG (“DAG”), the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has not been made aware of any confirmed field incidents with the subject Takata PSPI-2 inflators in their vehicles.

Nonetheless, based on the information provided and the long term investigation and subsequent recalls, and out of an abundance of caution, DAG is voluntarily conducting a recall of the vehicles equipped with the subject Takata PSPI-2 inflators in zones A, B, and C in the United States and its territories, in accordance with the 3rd Amendment to the Consent Order and as previously planned in conjunction with Takata and the NHTSA.

The Solution

Mercedes-Benz is in the process of notifying owners . An interim letter was mailed between Feb. 1 and March 8, and a second letter will be sent when parts are available. Authorized dealers will then replace the passenger-side front air bag modules in the potentially affected Mercedes-Benz vehicles, at no cost. In the cases of owners who have already addressed this defect by paying out of their own pocket, Mercedes-Benz will provide notice regarding reimbursement to owners in the customer letter.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 288,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 134,310 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Sean ReyesMercedes-Benz Recalls Nearly 300,000 More 2010-2017 Vehicles for Takata Airbag Defects