2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Air Bags & Restraints Problems

I had just gotten off the highway it was a rainy day and pulled into my driveway when airbag deployed on its own. I am lucky to be alive. I purchased this vehicle about 2 yrs or so ago and ran carfax that showed recall was fixed by manufacturer. I contacted Mercedes corporate office and it’s been almost two weeks with me calling and emailing w no call backs or any resolution. I don’t have a car and could have been seriously injured. Please help.

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the front passenger's side air bag unexpectedly deployed with no impact on the vehicle. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact parked and then restarted the vehicle before driving to the residence. The contact sustained bruises and scratches on his forearm, but medical attention was not received. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

I was driving in a parking lot and suddenly my air bag deployed for no reason I did not hit anyone or get hit for the airbag to deploy. Suffered some bruising on my right forearm and in my left ear I still hear ringing from the airbag deploying.

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light and the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated and then turned off independently. Additionally, the “Service Air Bags” message was displayed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall and that the front passenger’s side air bag was previously replaced. The failure mileage was 127,328.

"Front Right Malfunction Service Required." Recently purchased vehicle, dealer performed recalibration before sale (error did not display during test drive or before purchase). 30 minutes after purchase notification popped up, dealer agreed to pay for repair. Took to non-purchasing Mercedes dealer, they were able to reproduce and quoted for $4179. Repair included seat replacement and height adjustment replacement. Purchasing dealer then refused repair The error pops up randomly, with person in passenger seat and without. Afraid to have anyone ride as a passenger, if a wreck occurs the airbag could not deploy.

2013 MERCEDES BENZ C250. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKTA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT GETTING IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER IN ORDER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED OR, PICKED UP BY THE DEALER, DUE TO HAVING MEDICAL ISSUES.

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the driver’s side air bags were inadvertently deployed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat belt would not retract and was unable to lock and secure the driver. Also, the rear driver’s side seat belt ceased and was unable to pull out and lock to secure the driver’s side rear seat passenger. The rear passenger’s side seat belt failed to retract and would not secure the passenger side rear seat passenger. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

DRIVING VEHICLE NORMALLY AND TURN THE WHEEL AND HEAR CLICKING SOUND FROM AROUND STEERING WHEEL. FRONT, DRIVERS AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND HORN NOR ANY CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL WORK AT ALL. ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED "FRONT LEFT MALFUNCTION, SERVICE REQUIRED" SYMBOL FOR AIRBAG DISPLAYED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MERCEDES OF PALM BEACH DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THEIR WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS MODEL. I MENTIONED CAMPAIGN 2017120024 (ELEC) CAMPAIGN DESC. 1709P46C62 (ELEC) AND THEY STATE NO OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPUTABLE ESTABLISHED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS "NO COMMUNICATION WITH STEERING CONTROL MODULE" REPAIRMAN STATES THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AS THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND THE HORNS INABILITY TO FUNCTION PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM ALERTING ANY OTHER DRIVERS IF THEY STRAY FROM LANE, ARE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, OR DISTRACTED AT A RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

I HAVE SEVERAL SAFTEY RECALLS AND PERFORMANCE RECALLS. RIGHT NOW MY CAR IS NOT OPERABLE DUE TO THESE RECALLS. THERE IS NO DEALER ON MY ISLAND. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM HAWAII AND SHIPPED TO GUAM. THE DEALER IS REQUESTING US TO SHIP BACK THE VEHICLE TO FIX THESE RECALLS. WHICH WILL COST ME ABOUT 10,000.00 FOR SHIPPING. HOW DO I GO ABOUT THIS.

AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED ONCE THEY CAR WAS TURN ON, AS I SHIFTED TO REVERSE TO BACK AWAY FROM A PARKING SPOT, AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO IMPACT, NO COLLISION, NO POT HOLES. VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TONREVERSE. AIRBAG STRUCK PRIMARILY IN THE CHEST, NECK, AND THROAT. WHIPLASH EFFECT HAS ALSO CAUSE LOWER BACK PAIN.

I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS & THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AT REFUSES TO LOOK AT IT UNLESS I PAY THEM FIRST.

THE RECALL WAS FROM JAN 2019, BUT THE AIRBAG PART\ AVAILABILITY IS STILL PENDING AFTER 1.5 YEARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WEST CHESTER DEALER (1260 WILMINGTON PIKE, WEST CHESTER, PA 19382) TO BE SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). DUE TO THE PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, BOTH HER DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS WERE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED AT THE TIME THAT THE DEALER'S POLICY WAS TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS TURNED OFF UNTIL THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. ON JULY 19,2020, THE CONTACT SUFFERED A SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. DUE TO THE SEIZURE, THE CONTACT SIDE SWIPED A TELEPHONE POLE AND DROVE INTO A FLOWER BED. ONCE SHE RAN OVER THE FLOWER BED, THE VEHICLE CATAPULTED INTO THE AIR AND THE VEHICLE LANDED ON HER DRIVER SIDE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS, WHICH WERE STILL ACTIVATED, DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE AUTHORITIES WERE CALLED AND THE PARAMEDIC WERE FORCED TO BREAK THROUGH HER WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF TO REMOVE HER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS IMMEDIATELY TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS TREATED FOR A CONCUSSION AND A MISSING TOOTH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PLACED INTO THE POSSESSION OF HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,815. *DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES BENZ OF OKLAHOMA CITY (14240 BROADWAY EXT, EDMOND, OK 73013) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG WAS DISABLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO BUCKLE AND OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE LEFT IN THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE AIR BAG WARNING SENSOR LIGHT FAILURE AND SHE WAS ALSO GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Per the attached Repair Order 948486 dated May 13, 2020, when I brought in the car to Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach for the airbag recall, I thought both of the Takata airbags were replaced and not just the passenger airbag. In fact, Repair Bill Job A states: “Replace Driver and Front Passenger Airbag”. “No Charge” I did not notice that they only replaced the passenger airbag. I would not have known the driver’s side was not replaced if the airbag warning light did not come on. Please direct Fletcher Jones to finish this repair properly. Per the enclosed photos, my dash display now has an image of the airbag and it says “Front Left Malfunction Service Required”. I am very worried what will happen if we get into an accident. Per the highlighted text attached, on April 14, 2021, a driver reported: “Front drivers air bag malfunction light is illuminated and horn nor any controls on steering wheel work at all.” I checked the horn and the steering wheel controls on our C250 when I read this. I discovered they do not work on our car as well. This drivers report goes on to say: “…repairman states this is a common issue with this car. I believe this is a serious safety issue with this vehicle as the airbag malfunction can possibly cause serious injury to the driver and the horns inability to function prevents the driver from alerting any other drivers if they stray from lane, are backing out of parking space, or distracted at a red traffic signal.” On Repair Order 948486 Fletcher Jones tried to reset the headrest which popped open when I sat in the car and put my head against it to rest. It was not due to any accident, the car was stationary. Fletcher Jones could not reset the headrest and asked for $1200 for a new one. Clearly this is also a defect because it did not occur during an accident and the headrest should not have separated. An attached article shows the Takata airbag problems still exist as ticking time bombs. MB CEO did not reply to my letter.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ OF ATLANTA SOUTH (LOCATED AT 3775 ROYAL S PKWY, ATLANTA, GA 30349), EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES- BENZ OF ATLANTA SOUTH LOCATED AT (3775 ROYAL SOUTH PKWY, ATLANTA GA) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD CONSUMER RECEIVED A NHTSA RECALL: 18V043 IN FEB. 2018. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MERCEDES BENZ OF ATLANTIC CITY (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. *DL