Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-benz glk250. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags). The contact called Mercedes-benz of seattle (2025 airport way s, seattle, wa 98134) and was informed that the parts were pending and unavailable. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was provided the same information as the dealer. The contact filed a…
2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class airbags problems
moderate 74 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
74
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 74 airbags complaints filed for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK-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 60% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 74 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
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 GLK-Class models covered in these complaints carry a factory defect in the Takata passenger-side airbag inflator (NHTSA recall 19V010) that poses serious injury or death risk if the airbag deploys in a crash. As of the complaint dates, remedy parts remained unavailable for many months after the recall was issued, leaving owners unable to drive the vehicle safely or trade it in.
The overwhelming majority of these 74 complaints center on a single critical issue: the Takata passenger-side airbag recall (NHTSA Campaign 19V010), issued January 18, 2019, which affects 2010–2017 model year GLK-Class vehicles. Takata identified a defect where the passenger-side inflator can explode during deployment, driving metal fragments through the airbag cushion and striking occupants—a risk the recall notices explicitly warn could cause serious injury or death.
Owners received recall notification beginning March 2019, but dealers across the country repeatedly confirmed replacement parts were unavailable. Many waited 18 months or longer. Some dealers quoted May 2020 or later for parts arrival. During this extended wait, owners report feeling forced to choose between driving a vehicle they considered unsafe or leaving it unused. Several tried to purchase parts at their own expense and were told none were available. No loaner vehicles or buyback programs were offered in any complaint narrative.
A smaller number of complaints report airbag warning lights illuminating or remaining continuously lit, with one owner stating a dealer permanently disabled the sensor. These warning light faults occurred at mileages between 58,000 and 100,000 miles, though dealers were unable to diagnose or repair them.
Owners consistently cited the unacceptable delay as the core grievance—facing a known, severe safety risk with no timeline for remedy.
Same Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Passenger-Side Airbag Inflator Defect (NHTSA 19V010)
Passenger-side frontal airbag inflator prone to explosion under certain crash conditions, potentially sending metal fragments through the airbag cushion material and striking occupants. This is a design/manufacturing defect in Takata inflators affecting multiple model years and engine variants of the GLK-Class.
When: Recall issued January 18, 2019; owners received notifications beginning March 2019. Many owners waited 18+ months (through 2020) without remedy parts becoming available.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated on dashboard; No physical failure symptoms in pre-crash state; defect only manifests during actual airbag deployment in a crash
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 19V010000, Mercedes Recall 2019 010001
Repairs/costs cited: Remedy requires replacement of passenger-side airbag inflator assembly. Owners report dealers confirming parts unavailable for months or longer; some dealers quoted May 2020 or later availability. No aftermarket or interim solutions were offered. Some owners requested loaner vehicles; manufacturers did not provide them. Estimated repair labor costs not cited in complaints.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Formal recall NHTSA 19V010 (PND TAK Phase 4) issued. Remedy: authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will replace passenger-side airbag. However, remedy parts remained unavailable for extended periods (many complaints from mid-2019 through 2020 cite no ETA or May 2020+ timelines). No buyback or loaner programs documented in these narratives.
Airbag Warning Light Malfunction / Sensor Disability
Airbag warning light illuminates or fails to function as designed in some cases. One complaint states the sensor light was permanently disabled by dealer diagnostics. Another notes intermittent illumination even with no passenger present, raising concern of unintended deployment.
When: Documented at mileages 58,000–100,000 miles; one case near 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light remains continuously illuminated on dashboard; Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently during normal driving (~35 mph); Warning light illuminates even when front passenger seat is empty; Sensor light reported as permanently disabled by dealer
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 19V010000
Repairs/costs cited: One case: dealer mechanic informed owner the sensor light was permanently disabled. No repair solution was provided; owner was advised to call NHTSA Hotline. Dealer diagnostics unable to identify root cause in another case. No parts costs or repair procedures specified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised owner to contact NHTSA Hotline. No specific warranty claim, TSB, or recall explicitly linked to these warning light failures in the narratives.
Synthesized from 74 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 12 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-benz glk350. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags) and stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. An unknown dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-benz glk350. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Mercedes-benz of akron (1361 e market st, akron, oh 44305, (330) 733-7511) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-benz glk350. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19v01000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called viti Mercedes-benz (975 fish rd, tiverton, ri 02878, (866) 980-6224) and was informed that the parts were not available. The…
This vehicle is currently under a formal recall by Mercedes (NHTSA id# 19v010 - pnd tak phase 4). This complaint involves the lack of timeliness in resolving & correcting the issue. The recall letter states that deployment of the passenger-side airbag can cause "... Serious injury or death." because of this warning, we are unable to accept passengers and are forced to limit driving the car…
A message appears with seatbelt and air bag front left malfunction service required dealer said there is a sensor in seatbelt tregerring this message.
Vehicle is under takata airbag recall since february 2019 and has still not been repaired.this is a ridiculous amount of time to wait. Mercedes-benz needs to step up their action plan!
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-benz glk250. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags). The contact called Mercedes-benz of care (2400 outburst blvd, care, nc 27511, (919) 380-1800) and was informed that the parts were pending and unavailable. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was provided the same information. The contact had not…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-benz glk350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified. The part was not available for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-benz glk350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that the part was not available for the repair. The dealer was not contacted. The contact had…
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK-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 GLK-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 74 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?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 32,000 and 62,000 miles, with the median around 52,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,000; a quarter make it past 62,000. 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/2014/Mercedes-Benz/GLK-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.