The defect
Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2013 SL63, SL550, and SL65 vehicles manufactured January 16, 2013, through April 30, 2013. The affected vehicles are equipped with an occupant classification system (OCS) that may not detect a very light person sitting in the front passenger seat.
The risk
If the OCS does not detect a very light person sitting in the seat, the passenger side air bag would be turned off. In the event of a crash necessitating side air bag deployment, the passenger would be at an increased risk of injury.
The remedy
Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side seat cushion including the OCS. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes at 1-201-573-0600.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz SL550 | 2013 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL63 | 2013 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL65 | 2013 |
Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz SL550 | 2013 | 17 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL63 | 2013 | 1 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL65 | 2013 | 0 | 2 |
Other air bags recalls in 2013
23 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the air bags; Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. filed 199 campaigns in all.
| 13V607000 2 Dec 2013 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 13V564000 12 Nov 2013 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 13V555000 6 Nov 2013 | Chrysler Group LLC |
| 13V456000 26 Sept 2013 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 13V412000 19 Sept 2013 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 13V405000 6 Sept 2013 | Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. |
| 13V315000 19 Jul 2013 | General Motors LLC |
| 13V291000 2 Jul 2013 | Chrysler Group LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013