On 12/26/19 contacted benz dealer in west caldwell, nj. Explained to rep. That there was a recall on my vehicle for faulty airbags that when they are deployed had metal and could cause harm or death to passengers. The rep indicated that they do not know when my airbags would be replaced. She put in a call to service dept. So me and my family, including grandchildren have to ride around in a…
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class have filed 11 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
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 CLA-Class (this page) | 11 |
| 2015 CLA-Class | 15 |
| 2016 CLA-Class | 10 |
| 2017 CLA-Class | 5 |
| 2018 CLA-Class | 6 |
1fire
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two primary airbag defects in the 2014 CLA. The first involves steering column modules tied to NHTSA Recall 17V627—the module fails and triggers a persistent front left airbag malfunction warning and red SRS light. One owner took the vehicle to three Mercedes dealers; they all inspected it but refused proper repair, so he paid an independent shop $685 to replace the module and clear the warning. The warning reappeared 18 months after the dealer's initial recall work, indicating incomplete or faulty service.
The second problem is the Takata airbag inflator defect (NHTSA Campaign 19V010000). Owners received recall notifications but dealers at multiple locations—California, Arizona—informed them replacement parts were not yet available. Owners waited months without resolution. One owner noted the recall addresses inflators that can eject metal fragments on deployment, making the unfixed vehicles a serious safety risk.
Beyond the hardware failures, dealers have wrongly diagnosed airbag warning lights as customer-pay diagnostics, charging around $800, then refused refunds when recalls were issued and manufacturers acknowledged the fault. This created owner anger and confusion about warranty coverage and manufacturer responsibility.
Same Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Steering Column Module (SRS Malfunction Warning Light)
Steering column module defect causes persistent SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) malfunction warning and red light on dashboard indicating front left airbag fault. Issues reappear after dealer's initial recall repair, suggesting incomplete or faulty factory service.
When: 18 months after initial dealer recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Front left airbag malfunction message; Red SRS warning light on instrument panel; Light and message reappear after dealer warranty repair
Codes mentioned: SRS front left malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Stargate Garage replaced steering column module for $685; dealer refused to perform replacement under recall. Message and red light cleared after independent repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall #17V627 issued. Mercedes dealers inspected but refused to complete repair in at least one case.
Takata Airbag Inflator (Recall 19V010000 – Parts Shortage)
Recall for Takata airbags with defective inflators that can expel metal fragments on deployment. Multiple owners report dealers unable to obtain replacement parts months after recall notification, leaving vehicles unfixed.
When: Months after recall notification (cases documented from December 2019 and earlier)
Symptoms owners cite: No failures reported by owners; recall preventative; Vehicle remains unsafe due to unrepaired defect
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 19V010000
Repairs/costs cited: Parts unavailable at multiple dealers (Monterey CA, Chandler AZ) for extended periods. VIN tool confirms parts not in stock.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 19V010000 issued for Takata inflators. Manufacturer notified of parts shortage but no expedited supply documented.
SRS Malfunction Warning Light (Unspecified Cause)
Dashboard red light indicates faulty airbag system. Owner reports light remains on continuously but no further details provided.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Red light on at all times on dashboard; Indicates faulty air bag per owner
Airbag System Diagnostic Failures (Non-Recall Related)
Dealers incorrectly diagnose airbag warning lights as non-warranty issues and charge owners for diagnostics when subsequent recalls are issued, later claiming repairs were for unrelated components.
When: March 2017 documented case
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light illumination; Incorrect dealer diagnosis
Repairs/costs cited: Owner charged approximately $800 by Fletcher Jones (Chicago) for airbag light diagnosis; manufacturer later acknowledged recall but refused refund, claiming different part was repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued; customer service initially confirmed owner had valid refund claim, but management later denied refund citing different part repair.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-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 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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 11 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 79,333 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/2014/Mercedes-Benz/CLA-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.