The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 C300 Sedan, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles, and 2010 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the air bag control unit may corrode and cause the control unit to malfunction.
The risk
The malfunctioning air bag control unit may cause the air bags to unexpectedly deploy increasing the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash. Alternatively, the air bag control unit malfunction may cause the air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag control unit and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. Mercedes-Benz issued an interim notification to owners on December 23, 2015. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz C300 | 2008, 2009 |
| Mercedes-Benz C350 | 2008, 2009 |
| Mercedes-Benz C63 | 2008, 2009 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLK350 | 2010 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
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 C300 | 2008 | 672 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz C300 | 2009 | 576 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz C350 | 2008 | 144 | 6 |
| Mercedes-Benz C350 | 2009 | 65 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz C63 | 2008 | 5 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz C63 | 2009 | 12 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLK350 | 2010 | 241 | 5 |
Other air bags recalls in 2015
61 of the 863 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2015 concerned the air bags; Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. filed 199 campaigns in all.
| 15V830000 10 Dec 2015 | General Motors LLC |
| 15V823000 8 Dec 2015 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 15V815000 4 Dec 2015 | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. |
| 15V787000 23 Nov 2015 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 15V739000 9 Nov 2015 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 15V714000 29 Oct 2015 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 15V695000 23 Oct 2015 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 15V681000 20 Oct 2015 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2015