Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-benz e350. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 17v017000 (air bags) and stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. The dealer (penske Mercedes-benz, 2010 e garvey ave, west covina, ca 91791) confirmed that parts were not available to perform the recall repair. The…
2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have filed 91 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 49,000 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
91
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 E-Class | 8 |
| 2009 E-Class | 5 |
| 2010 E-Class | 94 |
| 2011 E-Class | 137 |
| 2012 E-Class (this page) | 91 |
| 2013 E-Class | 55 |
| 2014 E-Class | 54 |
| 2015 E-Class | 11 |
| 2016 E-Class | 28 |
3crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 91 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Airbags accounts for 39% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 91 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
The overwhelming issue here is the Takata recall delay, not airbag failures themselves. Most of the 91 complaints involve 2012 E-Class owners who received recall notices (primarily NHTSA campaigns 17V017000 and 19V010000) but were unable to schedule repairs because replacement inflators were unavailable for months or years. Owners repeatedly called dealers and the manufacturer, only to be told "parts not available" with no clear timeline. Several complained they've been driving unsafe cars for over a year after recall notification.
A smaller subset reported actual airbag malfunctions: two drivers experienced frontal airbags that failed to deploy during accidents, resulting in injuries; one reported a headrest (Neck Pro Active restraint) that deployed inadvertently while the car was parked, causing unintended activation; one saw warning lights illuminate with a "Pre-safe Inoperable" message; another noticed the airbag-off indicator falsely illuminating with a lightweight passenger. One narrative mentioned a class-action lawsuit against Mercedes and Gammer (the plastic headrest component manufacturer).
The defect described in recall notices warned that Takata inflators could rupture and send metal fragments toward occupants—a serious hazard—but owners were left stranded unable to get the fix for years after notice.
Same Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Inflator Defect - Parts Unavailable for Recall
Defective Takata airbag inflators identified in NHTSA campaigns 17V017000 and 19V010000 with risk of rupture and metal fragment ejection during deployment. Manufacturers issued recall notices but repair parts remained unavailable for extended periods, leaving owners unable to complete recalls despite multiple attempts.
When: Recall notices issued 2017–2019; parts unavailable for months to years following notification
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received with warning of potential airbag rupture and occupant injury risk; Dealer and manufacturer unable to provide parts or timeline for availability; Owners driving vehicles with known defect for extended periods after recall notice
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 17V017000, NHTSA Campaign 19V010000, NHTSA Campaign 18V043000
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement airbag inflators required; parts unavailable throughout recall period. Owners cite expected availability dates that repeatedly failed (December 2018 became February 2018+, May 2020 delays noted).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mercedes-Benz issued recall notices for defective Takata inflators with deployment hazard warning. Manufacturer stated parts would become available by stated deadlines (December 2018, May 2020, November 2020) but failed to meet those timelines. Dealers confirmed parts unavailable; manufacturer unable to confirm when remedy would be available.
Frontal Airbags Failed to Deploy During Crashes
Driver and passenger frontal airbags did not deploy during collision impacts. Two documented crashes at low speed (5 mph, 40 mph) resulted in occupant injuries with airbags remaining non-functional.
When: At mileage approximately 93,000–115,000 miles during collision events
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during side-impact collision at 40 mph; No airbag deployment during low-speed frontal impact at 5 mph; Occupants sustained neck, back, shoulder, arm, and leg injuries requiring medical attention
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 17V017000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles towed to dealers; diagnosis not completed or repair not performed. One vehicle never diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicles were included in NHTSA recall campaign 17V017000. No remedy information documented in narratives.
Headrest Automatic Deployment (Neck Pro Active Restraint)
Active head restraint deployed unintentionally while vehicle was parked and unoccupied. Plastic component (reportedly manufactured by Gammer) fails over time, causing inadvertent activation. Owners note this poses hazard if occupant is seated when it deploys, potentially causing injury or loss of vehicle control during driving.
When: Failure noted at approximately 105,000 miles; complaint filed at later date
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest deployed while vehicle parked with no occupant in seat; System activated for no apparent reason; Risk of injury to occupant if seated during unintended deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Plastic restraint component subject to degradation. Owner mentions class-action lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz and Gammer (plastic component manufacturer).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint references class-action lawsuit pending against manufacturer and parts supplier.
Airbag Warning Light Illumination and Pre-Safe System Malfunction
Front driver and passenger airbag warning lights illuminated simultaneously. System displayed 'Pre-Safe Inoperable—Check Owner's Manual' message. One incident involved headrest deployment coinciding with warning light. Another report involved intermittent false airbag-off warning with lightweight passenger occupying seat.
When: Approximately 105,000 miles; one report at 100 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated on both driver and passenger sides; Pre-safe system inoperable message displayed; Headrest deployed during warning condition; False airbag-off indicator with lightweight passenger (approximately 100 pounds) in seat
Codes mentioned: Pre-Safe Inoperable warning
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer; not diagnosed or repaired. Dealer informed owner of unknown prior passenger airbag recall repair on vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of malfunction. Dealer informed of prior undocumented recall repair performed on vehicle.
Synthesized from 91 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
Takata recall has not been performed on my vehicle. I don't feel safe driving this car.
A recall for air bags was initiated in 2017. It is almost 2020. Why is it not fixed?
Takata recall: this recall was in january 2018 and the car's airbags still have not been replaced and they have no idea when they can replace them. This is un-acceptable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-benz e350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v017000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Mercedes-benz of delray (1001 linton blvd, delray beach, fl 33444, (561) 291-6095) confirmed that the…
2012 Mercedes benz e350. Consumer writes in regards to a safety defect with the passenger side airbag. *ld the consumer stated the recall repair exceeded a reasonable amount of time. Updated 11/22/2017*js
I received a letter from Mercedes benz asking me to make an appointment with a dealer to get the repairs made to the faulty airbags. The dealer on 5 occasions has said that they don't have the necessary parts.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-benz e350c. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 17v017000 (air bags). The manufacturer and an unknown dealer were notified and stated that the part was not available for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Takata recall I received a notice at the beginning of the year about the recall but the manufacturer has not provided the dealerships with the ability to correct the issue.
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-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 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 91 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 40,000 and 93,000 miles, with the median around 49,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 93,000. 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/2012/Mercedes-Benz/E-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.