Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-benz e350. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags). The contact called prime motor cars at 207-510-2250 (located at 137 us route 1, scarborough, me 04074) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts…
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have filed 55 NHTSA complaints about the airbags 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 →
Complaints
55
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 E-Class | 5 |
| 2010 E-Class | 94 |
| 2011 E-Class | 137 |
| 2012 E-Class | 91 |
| 2013 E-Class (this page) | 55 |
| 2014 E-Class | 54 |
| 2015 E-Class | 11 |
| 2016 E-Class | 28 |
| 2017 E-Class | 19 |
2crashes
2injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 55 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.
Airbags accounts for 30% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report receiving Takata airbag recall notices (campaigns 16V081000, 17V017000, 18V043000, 19V010000) warning that passenger-side frontal airbag inflators may rupture or explode during deployment, potentially ejecting metal fragments through the cushion material and causing serious injury or death. The core defect has been known to Mercedes since at least 2016.
The practical problem: replacement parts have been unavailable or indefinitely backordered for years. Owners contacted authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers nationwide and repeatedly heard the same response—parts not available. When manufacturers were asked for timelines, they could not confirm when parts would arrive. Some notices cited availability dates of June 2018, March 2019, or May 2020; many owners report those dates passed with no resolution. One owner stated the recall began in January 2016 and parts still weren't available by mid-2018. Others report checking status repeatedly over 17 months with no remedy and no estimated date.
The frustration is legitimate: owners cannot sell their vehicles due to the unresolved safety recall, dealers won't accept them for trade-in, and they're forced to operate cars flagged as potentially deadly. One owner stopped allowing family members to drive the vehicle and kept it parked in the garage. Another crash complaint documents airbag non-deployment during a frontal collision at approximately 120,000 miles.
Same Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Takata passenger-side airbag inflator rupture risk
Passenger-side frontal airbag inflator prone to rupture or explosion during deployment, potentially ejecting metal fragments through the cushion material into occupants. Affects multiple model years and is tied to widespread Takata defect recalls (campaigns 16V081000, 17V017000, 18V043000, 19V010000).
When: During frontal crash requiring airbag deployment
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received warning of inflator explosion risk; Metal fragment hazard through deployed airbag cushion; Risk of serious injury or death to passengers
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V081000, NHTSA 17V017000, NHTSA 18V043000, NHTSA 19V010000
Repairs/costs cited: Authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer replacement of passenger-side airbag required; however, replacement parts have been unavailable or on indefinite backorder across nearly all dealerships and for years after recall issuance.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued (NHTSA 19V010001 and related campaigns); remedy designated as airbag replacement. Manufacturer repeatedly unable to confirm parts availability or delivery timeline. Some notices stated parts may not be available until June 2018, March 2019, or May 2020, with many still unavailable or pending as of latest complaints.
Airbag non-deployment during frontal collision
Frontal airbags failed to deploy in at least one crash event where deployment would have been expected. Vehicle hit tree at approximately 25-30 feet after initial barrier impact; passenger sustained rib injuries.
When: At approximately 120,000 miles; during frontal crash into tree following unintended acceleration
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment upon high-impact frontal collision; Passenger sustained left-side rib injury despite airbag system presence
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was totaled at scene and towed to salvage yard for inspection; no repair performed. Police report filed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; case number assigned. Dealer had not yet been notified at time of complaint.
Synthesized from 55 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-benz e350a. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 18v043000 (air bags). The contact stated that the recall date was changed by the manufacturer from january 10, 2016 to january 10, 2018 after she called about the recall. The contact called two dealers, including Mercedes-benz of houston north at 281-305-8970…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-benz e350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Viti Mercedes-benz (975 fish rd, tiverton, ri 02878, (401) 352-6555) was contacted and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-benz e350. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 18v043000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer failed to provide the part within a reasonable time frame. The dealer (Mercedes-benz of south bay, 3311 pacific coast hwy, torrance, ca 90505, (310) 513-5300) stated that the part was not available. The…
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-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?
Based on the 55 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 53,750 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/2013/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.