Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-benz slk350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v081000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair as the recall notice was received over a year ago. The dealer (feldmann imports, 4901 american blvd w,…
2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class airbags problems
moderate 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 27 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue across these 27 complaints is the Takata airbag recall (NHTSA campaign 16V081000) and a crippling supply breakdown. Owners received recall notices starting in February 2016, but replacement parts never materialized. Dealers repeatedly promised availability, then said parts were on order with no delivery date. Some owners parked their cars for 18 months to 3 years, afraid to drive them but unable to sell them because of the unresolved recall. One owner held a recall promise from Mercedes that parts would arrive by June 2018—it never happened.
In March 2018, Mercedes abruptly closed the recall campaign, claiming internal testing determined the Takata airbags didn't actually need replacement. No owner notification preceded this closure. Meanwhile, TK Holdings (Takata's parent company) filed for bankruptcy, deepening owner distrust.
A smaller group reported ongoing airbag system failures: one driver's SRS light came on mid-highway because of a defective seat belt buckle, which had to be fixed before the airbag would function. Another owner's horn jammed repeatedly and required a $1,400 airbag replacement. One owner documented three replacement attempts, yet the driver-side airbag kept failing.
Owners describe vehicles with diminished value, inability to sell, mandatory insurance on cars they couldn't drive, and profound frustration over a known safety hazard left unresolved.
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Recall - Parts Unavailable / Prolonged Delay
Owners received NHTSA recall campaign 16V081000 (Takata airbags) but dealers and Mercedes-Benz were unable to supply replacement parts for extended periods—in many cases years. Mercedes promised parts availability on multiple occasions but failed to deliver. Some owners parked vehicles for 18+ months or were unable to drive them awaiting the remedy. Parts remained unavailable even when dealers claimed to have stock, creating a stall-like situation.
When: Recall notices received February 2016 onwards; complaints filed through 2018 and later. Some owners waited 3+ years.
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received (NHTSA campaign 16V081000); Parts not available for installation; Dealer unable to confirm delivery timeline; Vehicle unsafe to drive pending repair; Owner unable to sell vehicle due to unresolved recall
Codes mentioned: 16V081000
Repairs/costs cited: Takata airbag replacement (cost of replacement not cited by owners; one owner noted $665 access cost unrelated to the recall work). Parts sourcing was the blocking issue, not labor or identification.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 16V081000 (Takata airbag recall). Mercedes-Benz closed the recall campaign for 2007 SLK models as of March 2018, claiming an internal experiment determined replacement was not needed. TK Holdings (Takata parent) filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which owners cited as reason to doubt the recall would be completed.
SRS Malfunction Light / Seat Belt Buckle Issue Blocking Airbag Repair
One owner's SRS malfunction light illuminated during highway driving. A Mercedes mechanic stated that airbags would not deploy until the seat belt buckle failure was corrected first. The complaint notes this problem is common among other Mercedes owners and likens it to a Honda defect pattern.
When: During highway driving; specific mileage not provided.
Symptoms owners cite: SRS malfunction warning light illuminated; No accident or object strike occurred; Airbags will not deploy until corrected
Repairs/costs cited: Failure identified in passenger seat belt buckle. Airbag repair conditional on seat belt buckle repair.
Horn Continuously Blowing / Dust Buildup in Airbag
One owner reported the horn would not stop blowing. The dealer stated the airbag needed replacement due to dust buildup. Repair was estimated at $1,400. Owner had to disconnect the horn relay as a temporary workaround.
When: No mileage or timing provided.
Symptoms owners cite: Horn continues to blow uncontrollably; Dust buildup in airbag identified as cause
Repairs/costs cited: $1,400 to correct. Horn relay was disconnected as temporary fix.
Repeated Driver-Side Airbag Malfunction / Multiple Replacements
One owner had to have replacement parts installed three times and continues to receive messages that the driver's side airbag is not functioning. This pattern suggests either chronic defect, poor repair quality, or recurring sensor failure.
When: Multiple instances over vehicle ownership; no specific mileage provided.
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag not functioning message; Repeated failures after replacement installation
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement parts installed three times with recurring failure.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 17 most recent
I am unable to get replacement air bags and was advised to file a complaint. I called 2 dealerships today, again (Mercedes benz massapequa and rockville center) and neither has received the airbags from takeda.
2007 Mercedes benz slk 280. Consumer writes in regards to defective driver side airbag repair costs issues. *smd the dealer informed the consumer, it would cost $665 to access the air bag. *jb
Takata recall
Nothing has been resolved since being notified in april of the recall. Recall#16v-081
Takata recall the airbags in my vehicle need to be recalled and replaced. My vehicle is a 2007. How much longer will it take for Mercedes to make a recall and rectify the airbags that presents a potential and dangerous hazard? I want peace of mind and it is distressing and stressful to know that the airbags in my car present such a hazard to my life and safety. Los angeles does experience…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-benz slk280. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v081000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Sullivan-parkhill imports (401 w marketview dr, champaign, il) was contacted and confirmed that…
Takata recall "remedy not yet available". Problem known for years. I paid thousands for defective safety equipment which has put my family's lives in danger. Car is unsafe and has hardly been driven because of it. Car has diminished value and is near impossible and illegal to sell and not road worthy. Just an expensive and useless item.
Takata recall: the mercades dealership does not have replacement airbags and does not know when they might be available.
"takata recall"
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 13,037 and 69,000 miles, with the median around 41,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,037; a quarter make it past 69,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Mercedes-Benz/SLK-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.