Takata recall: still no remedy available per Mercedes benz; first notice received 2/2017.
2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class airbags problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 13 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
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
Buyer takeaway: A 2009 GL-Class with Takata airbags has been under recall since 2016 with no parts available for replacement and no manufacturer timeline for repair completion—check NHTSA status before buying and get written confirmation from the selling dealer on current recall status.
Owners of 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450 and GL550 models cite a Takata airbag recall (NHTSA campaign 16V081000, initiated February 2016) that remains unrepaired years after notification. The core issue: replacement airbag components never materialized, leaving dealers unable to complete the work. Owners reported receiving recall notices in 2016 and 2017 but faced indefinite waits. Dealers either claimed parts were unavailable with no delivery estimate, or in one case, refused to perform the repair altogether and told the owner to seek service elsewhere. One dealer closed a recall request on the dealer's records while the repair sat incomplete, then issued a final notice months later with no resolution. Some owners never received initial recall contact. Multiple owners report being told Mercedes-Benz has no information on when—or if—their airbags will be replaced, leaving them unable to sell or trade in vehicles carrying an open safety recall. Owners did not report actual airbag failures, but expressed concern about driving with unrepaired recalled safety equipment.
Same Mercedes-Benz GL-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag recall—parts unavailable
NHTSA campaign 16V081000 issued recall notices to owners starting in 2016–2017, but replacement airbag components remained unavailable or severely delayed, preventing dealers from completing recall repairs.
When: Recall initiated February 2016; complaints filed through October 2017 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Received recall notice but dealer states parts unavailable; Manufacturer cannot provide estimated repair date; Recall repair incomplete or not scheduled despite repeated notices
Codes mentioned: 16V081000, 2016020003
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite inability to schedule appointments due to missing replacement airbag assemblies; one owner reports dealer refused to perform recall service and declined to send follow-up notice.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V081000 (Takata airbag recall); manufacturers stated parts not available and could not provide timeline for repair.
Dealer service coordination failure
Dealers either refused to perform recall work, closed recall requests without completing repairs, or ceased communication with owners about the status of parts or appointment availability.
When: 2016–2018
Symptoms owners cite: Dealer claims recall is closed despite incomplete repair; Dealer refuses to schedule appointment and tells owner to go elsewhere; Dealer sends final notice but provides no resolution path; Dealer ceases communication about recall status
Repairs/costs cited: Mercedes-Benz dealerships reported closed recalls on vehicles with unrepaired safety issues; one dealer (Mercedes-Benz of Santa Monica) told owner the recall would not be fixed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Final notices issued after incomplete repairs; manufacturer was notified of service failures but no documented remedy provided to owners.
Recall communication and notification gaps
Owners report never receiving initial recall notification, receiving incomplete notice with no actionable path to repair, or receiving repeated notices without remedy.
When: 2016–2017 onwards
Symptoms owners cite: Owner never contacted by manufacturer about recall; Repeated recall notices without remedy or timeline; No information provided on when replacement parts will be available
Codes mentioned: 16V081000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 16V081000 issued; some owners received no initial contact, others received multiple notices without parts availability or repair dates.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
It's taking too long to get these airbags replaced! News reports continue to report on injuries and how important it is to get fixed and takata is not able to meet the demand while they continue to produce new air bags for new cars? Where is NHTSA priorities here? I have 4 cars that all need replacing and my 3 drivers in the house all feel unsafe! Federal gov should insist all manufacturing…
This complain is about the recall report as below feb 11,2016 manufacturer recall number2016020003 NHTSA recall number16v081 description: I have never been contacted by the manufacturer about this recall. Apparently, the manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner.
Takata recall my vehicle is part of the recall and there is still no fix for my problem. This is extremely dangerous, we are driving with a ticking time bomb.
Takata recall the recall was instituted february 2016, yet to date there has been no remedy offered by the manufacturer and no indication as to when they will be replacing the airbags.
Mercedes benz of santa monica california sent me a recall notice over a year ago, when I made a appointment to come in they called me and said they weren't going to fix it and go somewhere else, then they said they send me another notice which they never did. My phone number is [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
Takata recall
Takata recall a recall notice was issued for my vehicle's (2009 benz gl450) airbags. However, takata / Mercedes benz do not have a remedy available for my vehicle despite the recall date being more than 1 year ago.
Takata recall. Due to the takata recall, the value of my car has diminished by approximately $5-6k, resulting in me being upside down on my loan. I am now stuck driving my family in an unsafe vehicle that I cannot sell without a significant loss.
Takata recall: Mercedes benz has no information on when my takata airbag will be replaced. Meanwhile I cannot sell my vehicle or do a trade-in with an open recall item. I need to know how I can get my airbag replaced asap.
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-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 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 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?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 98,733 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2009/Mercedes-Benz/GL-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.