Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-benz gl450. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 16v081000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Mercedes-benz of white plains (50 bank st, white plains, ny 10606, (914) 750-4148) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the…
2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class have filed 55 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 79,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
55
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 GL-Class | 13 |
| 2010 GL-Class | 29 |
| 2011 GL-Class (this page) | 55 |
| 2012 GL-Class | 37 |
| 2013 GL-Class | 3 |
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 55 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Of the 5 model years of Mercedes-Benz GL-Class we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 55.
Airbags accounts for 57% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2011 GL-Class report a widespread and unresolved Takata driver-side front airbag recall (NHTSA campaign 16V081000, initiated February 2016) that has left vehicles unsafe for years. The hazard is that non-desiccated PSDI-5 inflators can rupture upon deployment, firing metal fragments through the airbag cushion and into occupants—a potentially fatal defect. Mercedes notified owners of the recall and promised replacement of the driver-side airbag, but parts have never materialized. Owners report being told "no parts available" and "no time estimate" from multiple dealers across the country, with some waiting more than two years; one owner says Mercedes promised parts by June 2017 that never arrived. One owner received a recall notice in February 2016 and was still waiting with no remedy as of 2019. Takata filed for bankruptcy, further complicating matters. A few owners report the passenger airbag warning light staying on and one case where the airbag failed to deploy in a frontal crash. Owners express serious anxiety driving family members, particularly children, in vehicles they know carry a known-lethal defect with no fix in sight. Dealers offer no loaner vehicles and refuse to trade in affected cars.
Same Mercedes-Benz GL-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Takata PSDI-5 driver-side front airbag inflator rupture hazard
Non-desiccated PSDI-5 inflators from Takata can rupture under deployment, allowing metal fragments to pass through the airbag cushion material and cause serious injury or death. Takata reported four test ruptures in ballistic testing. Remedy (replacement of driver-side front airbag) initiated under NHTSA campaign 16V081000 but parts have remained unavailable for years after recall notification in February 2016.
When: Recall issued February 2016; parts unavailable through at least 2018-2019. Owners report waiting 2–3 years without remedy availability.
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received; Parts not available for replacement; Prolonged delays in remedy delivery; Takata bankruptcy filing reported by some owners
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V081000, NHTSA Campaign 2016020003, NHTSA Campaign 2019030018
Repairs/costs cited: Remedy: replacement of driver-side front airbag by authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. No parts available throughout recall period; multiple owners report being told 'no parts,' 'no time estimate,' and dealerships unable to schedule appointments.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mercedes-Benz recall notification issued; stated safety of utmost concern. Takata filed for bankruptcy. Mercedes stated parts would be available by June 2017 (per one owner's letter), but this date was not met. Some dealers offered no loaner vehicle option during recall wait.
Passenger airbag indicator illumination and malfunction
Passenger airbag warning light illuminates, indicating a system fault. One owner reported a malfunctioning sensor that keeps triggering the airbag. Owners also report a case where airbag did not deploy in a crash despite vehicle being in the recall.
When: Owners report at mileage ~80,000 and ongoing. One crash incident with airbag non-deployment.
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag warning light on; Airbag sensor malfunction; Airbag non-deployment in frontal crash impact (one reported incident)
Codes mentioned: Stored code for both driver-side doors (one incident)
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair parts or costs cited by owners in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contended in one crash case that airbags performed properly despite failure to deploy; owner suspects possible cover-up.
Synthesized from 55 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 13 most recent
I have contacted Mercedes multiple times and also questioned each year when I have taken my vehicle in for service, always told the same....they have not received the replacement airbags. I have parked my vehicle because I am afraid to drive it.
Takata airbag still inside car, have been asking dealer for almost 3 years now to fix it, they state they have no parts? Why hasn't this been fixed. Now I hear takata filed bankruptcy, so what happens now? Shouldnt the dealers buy back the cars like vw did with the issue with mileage, this is a lot more serious, can cause death if in a crash and they cannot fix it.
The air bag has a hole/ damaged and Mercedes benz is not fixing it... Dangerous to drive and can cause death if not fixed immediately !
Takata recall - its been over a year and nothing has been done about this. The online system says that the part is not available. The dealer would not take the car in as a trade as they said they cant sell it.
Takata recall. It has been almost 2 years and replacement airbags are still not available
Takata recall...why is no one able to help me. My airbags have been recalled and I keep getting tossed around and no one is claming responsibility. The reason I purchased a Mercedes is for safety of my family of five. What do I do to get this fixed?
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-benz gl450. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v081000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact received a recall notice over a year ago. The dealer (american service center associates, 585 n glebe rd, arlington, va 22203 (703) 525-2100) was contacted and confirmed that the parts…
Takata recall, parts are not available to replace in my 2011 Mercedes benz gl450
Takata recall: Mercedes benz contacted via mail stating the airbag recall back in february 2017 for 2011 gl450. Mb stated that airbags will be replace no later than june 2017. I have contacted two different Mercedes benz dealerships to have the airbag replace however; I was told that parts or the remedy was still not available. It's november 2018 and I am still waiting on a fixed, while I…
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 55 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 60,000 and 92,000 miles, with the median around 79,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 92,000. 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/2011/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.