2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Air Bags & Restraints Problems

My father and mother were driving back home on the evening of 1/29/25 when all of a sudden they heard a loud pop/explosion and their seat belts tightened. They were traveling at a speed of approximately 35 mph on local roads. There was no accident, collision, or warning signs, but the driver's side airbags, left side of the car, deployed. The message on the odometer said SRS Restraint system malfunction. The car is a 2006 Mercedes E500 with 58,900 miles having one owner and all maintenance performed on time. This is a high safety concern as it could have caused a severe accident and if the front airbags had deployed erroneously, this could have injured my elderly parents. I put a call into Mercedes corporate on 1/31/25 at 9:30 am but so far they do not appear to be taking this issue seriously. When my father contacted his local Mercedes dealer, they too do not want too deal with the issue.

SRS LIGHT STAYS ON. SCANNED SYSTEM AND GOT A CODE 9103. FOUND THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED BY MERCEDES FOR A WIRING PROBLEM AND HARNESS REPAIR FOR THIS MODEL. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE 6 HRS LABOR FOR THIS REPAIR. IT WAS THEIR FAULT IN MAKING THE WIRING HARNESS TOO SHORT FOR A STEERING COLUM THAT MOVES IN AND OUT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE STRUCK AN OBJECT AND CAUSED FOUR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE TIRE WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF COCONUT CREEK AT 954-406-1167 (LOCATED AT 4250 N. STATE ROAD 7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S NUMBER AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN OBJECT, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT SENT PICTURES OF THE TIRE, AIR BAGS, AND VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT CHANGE THE MANUFACTURER'S DECISION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED COMPLAINT NUMBER 11268700 CONCERNING TO THOUSAND AND SIX MERCEDES E 500 AFTER THE AIRBAG EXPLODED INSIDE THE CAR THIS LITTER FROM MERCEDES USA RESPONDING TO MY COMPLAIN TO THEM WHAT THEY SAYING THE CAR IMPACTED SOMETHING BEFORE THE AIRBAG EXPLODED. *JB *DT *TR

MY AIRBAGS SELF DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD JUST LEFT WORK AND DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON THE WEST SAM HOUSTON TOLLWAY APPROACHING THE TOLL STATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLY LOUD EXPLOSION AND AND HARD PERCUSSION AS THE AIRBAGS SELF DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN PUNCHED OR SHOT IN THE GUT. THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN DROPPED DOWN AND THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SEATBELT AROUND MY WAIST AND SHOULDER TIGHTENED. FORTUNATELY, I KEPT IT TOGETHER AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING, RUN OVER A POTHOLE, SWERVED OR OTHERWISE MAKE ANY SUDDEN DIRECTION CHANGE. I WAS IMMEDIATELY CALLED BY AN OPERATOR ON THE MERCEDES EMERGENCY SYSTEM WITHIN THE CAR. SO MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THE INCIDENT AT THE TIME IT HAPPENED. SHE ASKED IF I NEEDED AN AMBULANCE OR POLICE. I TOLD HER THAT THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN AND THAT I WAS PHYSICALLY OK. ADDITIONALLY, I DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO STAR MOTOR DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY LOOKED AT MY VEHICLE LESS THAN 20 MINUTES AFTER IT OCCURRED. THE SERVICE ADVISER AND SOME OF THE TECHNICIANS QUICKLY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE (IT WAS NEAR CLOSING TIME). THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT READ THE CODES OTHER THAN THE SRS FAULT. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WOULD LIKELY BE CHEAPER TO FIX AT A BODY SHOP THAN AT THE DEALER. I LATER FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SEATBELT HAD ALSO DEPLOYED AND WAS TIGHTENED.

THE PASENGER-SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A COLLISION. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT EVEN HITTING A POTHOLE.

TL* THE CONTACT WANTED TO USE THE EMAIL THAT HE SENT TO THE HOTLINE FOR HIS COMPLAINT. "THE DOCUMENTED ISSUE OCCURRED WHEN MY CAR TURNED 8 OR 9 YEARS OLD (2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500 IN MINT CONDITION WITH 82,000 MILES) WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHTS INTERMITTEDLY COMES ON. NOW, IT IS ON NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THAT OF A WEIGHT SENSOR, AND SAID WHENEVER THE LIGHT IS ON, ALL AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF AND WILL NOT DEPLOY. NOW IT IS NEARING 10 YEARS OLD AND AM STILL TRYING TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY ($850 TO $1000) AS YOUR AGENCY HAS DEFINED, "'MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REMEDY VEHICLES FOR FREE THAT ARE MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD ON THE DATE THE DEFECT OR NONCOMPLIANCE IS DETERMINED. UNDER THE LAW, THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE IS CALCULATED FROM THE DATE OF SALE TO THE FIRST PURCHASER'" THE ONLY RECALL THAT I AM AWARE FOR THIS CAR IS FOR THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND NOT FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED. IT IS NOT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A CAR MUST HAVE TO FACE A RECALL TO OBLIGE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG COMPONENT." THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TAKATA RECALL I WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP AND MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE REAR PASSENGER (BEHIND THE DRIVER).

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SAT. APRIL 9, 2016. I STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED DEAD STILL IN THE ROAD. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OVER 30 MILES AN HOUR BUT LESS THAN 45 MPH AND THE IMPACT WAS DEAD ON, NO GLANCING BLOW. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON A STATE HIGHWAY ABOUT 10 P.M.

THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THE RECALL AS A REGISTERED OWNER AND THE RECALL EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT COVER IT.

I AM REPORTING A VERY SERIOUS, DISTURBING, SHOCKING AND TRAGIC ACCIDENT ON 9/12/2015 ON RANDALL ROAD IN ELGIN, IL USA AT 2:35 PM JUST AFTER BIG TIMBER ROAD SIGNAL.MY SOUTHBOUND 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350 CAR WAS HIT BY THE HIGH SPEED OUT OF CONTROL NORTHBOUND 2014 TOYOTA COROLLA, WHICH HAD CROSSED/SWERVED THE CENTER LINE AND RESULTED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION/CRASH.....UPDATED 10-27-15 *BF *JS

THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING HER 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 ON A COUNTY ROAD IN REDMOND, WASHINGTON. DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IN WHICH SHE REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, CAUSING HER CAR'S DRIVER'S SEAT AIRBAG CONTAINED IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SOME PORTION OF THE AIR BAG OR ITS COVER (POSSIBLY THE METALLIC MERCEDES- BENZ EMBLEM) SLICED THE DRIVER'S THROAT, SEVERELY LACERATING HER TRACHEA AND NECK TISSUE...UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES E280. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE STOMACH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE WAS REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND AFTER INSPECTING IMAGES FROM THE CRASH SCENE, RULED THAT THE IMPACT DID NOT WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES E280 2006 ## *TR

MOVED TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL OUT SRS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED. MERCEDES IS AWARE THE CONNECTING HARNESS IS TOO SHORT THEY MAKE A REPAIR KIT BUT WILL NOT WARRANTY AFTER 100,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE RECALLED AND REPLACE BEFORE INCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND HITTING A POT HOLE, THE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR OUT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE....UPDATED 07-10-13 *BF UPDATED 07/17/2013 *JS

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS: YESTERDAY 1/19/11 WHILE DRIVING ~35-40MPH AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, MY 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 SUDDENLY &RAPIDLY DECELERATED WHILE MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE AUTO GAVE THE MESSAGE THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE DEACTIVATED BY THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT FOR ME HAD I BEEN ON THE BUSY HIGHWAY. I TOOK THE AUTO TO THE DEALERSHIP- MERCEDES BENZ HONOLULU AND THEY OFFERED VERY LITTLE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE DEFECTIVENESS OF THE AUTO AND WOULDN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ANOTHER MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MY HUSBAND USED NORMAL FORCE TO PULL THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TILT, AND IT CAME CLEAN OFF OF THE PANEL. HE PUT THE LEVER BACK INTO PLACE AN IT FELL ALL THE WAY INTO THE PANEL! THIS HAS CAUSED THE TILT TO BE PERMANENTLY LOOSE AND UNABLE TO BE LOCKED INTO PLACE. AGAIN, THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER. THE REPAIR QUOTE THAT WAS OFFERED WAS $1475.00 FOR THE TILT REPAIR- THIS IS OVERCHARGING AND PRICE PROHIBITIVE. SHOULDN'T MERCEDES BENZ ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY ISSUES, REPORT THEM SO THAT THEY DON'T RECUR IN OTHER VEHICLES? THESE ISSUES COULD CAUSE PASSENGER DEATH. [XXX] FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2006 MERCEDES E320 CDI SRS MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. SO FAR HAVE HAD TO REPLACE STEERING WHEEL WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, HARNESS, REEL, AND COMPUTER TO REPAIR SRS. *TR

SIDE AND CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. NO IMPACT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE IN THE REAR. AS A RESULT, ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

MY MERCEDES-BENZ E350, 2006 MODEL GOT AN ACCIDENT ON MAR 20, 2009. MY CAR WAS PUSHED BY THE BACK CAR INTO THE FRONT SUV AND SLID INTO SUV'S BOTTOM. MY CAR WAS TOTAL DAMAGED. MY SEAT BELT WAS STUCK. MY CAR'S FRONT HOOD WAS PUCKERED UP AND BACK BUMPER WAS PUSHED ALMOST 90 DEGREE. BUT MY DRIVER'S AIRBAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS OF THE CAR HIT MY BACK WAS DEPLOYED. *TR

ON DECEMBER 28 2006 I TOOK MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 TO MERCEDES BENZ OF MANHATTAN BECAUSE THE SRS (SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASHBOARD. THE TECHNICIANS DETERMINED THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SRS CONTROL UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEPLOYING THE AIR BAGS AND TENSIONING THE SEAT BELTS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I PURCHASED MY CAR USED FROM A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WITH A BUMPER TO BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM QUALITYGUARD PLUS 615-725-1000 POLICY #QSDL01651641 EXPIRES: 07-01-2007. THE WARRANTY COMPANY WAS INFORMED OF THE ABOVE, BUT REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS CLAIMING THAT THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I ASKED THEM WHY, AND THEY JUST REPEATED, ITS NOT COVERED. I THINK I DESERVE A BETTER ANSWER THAN THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MY PERSONAL SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I THINK IT SHOULD BE COVERED. YOU ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *NM