Tl* the contact rented a 2016 Mercedes-benz cla250. While driving 45 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed and failed to operate as intended. The contact also stated that the autonomous braking system failed to operate as intended. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic.…
2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class airbags problems
critical Owners of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class have filed 10 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
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 CLA-Class | 11 |
| 2015 CLA-Class | 15 |
| 2016 CLA-Class (this page) | 10 |
| 2017 CLA-Class | 5 |
| 2018 CLA-Class | 6 |
| 2019 CLA-Class | 3 |
4crashes
4injuries
1fatality
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report unintended airbag deployments in two distinct scenarios. The most serious involves driver-side airbag deployment without impact—one case while parked in a driveway at startup, another during normal highway driving that owners allege led to fatal loss of vehicle control. A passenger-side deployment at low speed injured the passenger's face and arm. Separately, multiple owners report airbags that failed to deploy during actual collisions, including a 45-mph rear-end crash, a front-end total loss, and a multi-impact collision that left one owner with over $100,000 in medical bills.
The underlying issue stems from a Takata recall issued in November 2017 warning of insufficient electrical grounding in the steering column that could trigger unintended driver airbag deployment. Mercedes-Benz informed affected owners the remedy was not yet available. As of 2023, owners report the repair still has no solution. One vehicle was held at a dealership since May 2023 with no repairs completed. Owners express frustration over driving recalled vehicles with a known defect for extended periods while the manufacturer withholds a fix.
Same Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended airbag deployment (driver side)
Driver-side airbag deployed without any collision or warning while vehicle was parked in driveway or during low-speed driving. One case resulted in serious injury (fractured pinky, surface burns); another fatal crash involved unintended deployment at 2:40 PM during normal driving.
When: Parked in driveway; low-speed driving; vehicles with 1,583 miles and in active operation
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed without impact or warning; Deployment while parked and engine started; Driver loss of vehicle control; Sudden deployment during low-speed operation
Codes mentioned: Insufficient electrical grounding in steering column components
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle held at dealership since May 2023; no repairs completed. Owner made three car payments with vehicle in lock-down.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: MBUSA recall letter issued November 2017 warning of insufficient electrical grounding in steering column that could lead to inadvertent driver airbag deployment; remedy stated as 'not available yet.' Vehicle remained unrepaired despite November 2017 dealer visit.
Unintended airbag deployment (passenger side)
Passenger-side airbag deployed without impact at slow speeds, causing facial and arm injuries to passenger. Vehicle had only 1,583 miles at time of deployment.
When: 1,583 miles; slow-speed driving
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side airbag deployed without warning or impact; Deployment at slow speeds; Passenger facial and right arm injuries
Codes mentioned: Driver's side undercarriage damage identified post-deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; diagnosed with driver's side undercarriage damage; not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure; Takata recall mentioned in owner complaint context.
Airbag failure to deploy during collision
Airbags failed to deploy during multiple impact collisions (rear-end crash at 45 mph, front-end total-loss collision, multi-door impact crash). Owner of one vehicle incurred over $100,000 in medical bills and requires additional surgery.
When: During active driving collisions; unknown mileage for most cases
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on impact; Failed deployment in rear-end collision; Failed deployment in front-end collision; Failed deployment in multi-side impact
Repairs/costs cited: Owner of multi-door impact vehicle had over $100,000 in medical bills and requires another surgery.
Takata recall: insufficient electrical grounding in steering column
Recall issued for insufficient electrical grounding in steering column components leading to risk of inadvertent driver airbag deployment. Remedy has remained unavailable for extended periods (over 1 year reported by one owner). Owners left driving vehicles with known safety defect while awaiting repair.
When: Recall letter issued November 2017; as of complaint dates (2023), remedy still unavailable for some vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Electrostatic discharge triggering airbag; Inadvertent driver airbag deployment risk
Codes mentioned: Insufficient electrical grounding in steering column
Repairs/costs cited: No remedy available; vehicles remain unrepaired in recall status. Multiple owners report months or years of waiting without solution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall letter issued November 2017 (Mercedes-Benz) warning of electrical grounding defect and deployment risk; stated remedy not available. No loaner vehicles offered. Owners directed to dealers but repairs could not be performed due to unavailable remedy.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
"takata recall" what purpose does this recall serve if the manufacturer still does not have a "remedy" available? I have 3 benz's, all affected by this recall and for over 1 year the dealer cannot repair due to "no remedy yet avail". So in the meantime, we should drive and pray that something tragic does not occur?
Hello, I am writing to file a complaint that I was not contacted or informed by Mercedes benz or my dealer in boston (Mercedes benz of boston, herb chambers) that my vehicle (VIN) was affected by the recent recall regarding the issue with the electrostatic discharge inadvertently setting off the airbag. I had to find this out through the NHTSA website and until now I have been driving around…
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class?
It's a serious issue. 10 complaints have been filed, including 4 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 15,292 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/2016/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.