A letter from the manufacturer (Mercedes-benz usa) was received 2/5/19, advising of a recall concerning the passenger-side airbag module for my 2016 e400 coupe (mbusa recall #2019010001). As of 12/19/19, the manufacturer still has not made the necessary remedy available.
2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags problems
severe 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 28 airbags complaints filed for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 32% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 7 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 28 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: A 2016 E-Class carries a serious Takata passenger-side airbag defect that can cause inflator rupture with metal fragment ejection—a safety-critical issue. Before buying, verify the recall has been completed; many owners reported the remedy parts were unavailable for years, leaving vehicles unsafe to use.
The overwhelming majority of complaints here center on the Takata passenger-side airbag recall (campaigns 19V010000 and 17V627000), which Mercedes-Benz issued in February 2019. The defect: Takata inflators can rupture during deployment, throwing metal fragments through the airbag cushion and into occupants, potentially causing serious injury or death.
The real problem isn't the defect itself—it's that Mercedes had no parts to fix it. From early 2019 through at least late 2019 and beyond, owners repeatedly contacted dealers and the manufacturer, only to be told no remedy was available and no timeline could be given. One owner waited over two years without resolution. Another was denied the ability to rent the car out because of the unresolved recall. Owners expressed legitimate concern that the manufacturer had exceeded reasonable timeframes; one noted high humidity in Florida could cause spontaneous rupture.
A handful of crash reports also appear: two drivers reported steering wheel airbags failing to deploy at 20–30 mph impact speeds, with one suffering a concussion. One owner mentioned a passenger seat capacity sensor fault preventing airbag activation, detected via OBD scanner. These non-Takata failures are less common in the cluster but underscore additional reliability concerns.
Same Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Takata passenger-side airbag inflator defect (recall 19V010000 / 17V627000)
Defective Takata passenger-side frontal airbag inflator prone to explosive rupture during deployment, ejecting metal fragments through the airbag material.
When: Recall issued February 2019; parts remained unavailable through at least December 2019 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received; Manufacturer unable to provide parts or timeline for remedy; Vehicle unsafe to use (e.g., rejected by rental service); Owners report anxiety and feeling unsafe
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 19V010000, NHTSA Campaign 17V627000, MBUSA Recall 2019010001
Repairs/costs cited: Authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer replacement of passenger-side airbag required; remedy parts not available for extended periods (6+ months reported); one owner reports replacement completed May 4, 2021
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued by Mercedes-Benz USA due to Takata defect decision; remedy incomplete, parts unavailable; dealers informed owners no ETA provided; one dealership (Park Place Dallas) reportedly completed repair May 4, 2021
Steering wheel airbag non-deployment in crash
Steering wheel airbag failed to deploy during frontal impact collisions at speeds reported as 20–30 mph.
When: Occurred during actual crash events; no specific mileage noted
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag did not deploy despite frontal impact; Driver struck steering wheel with chest; Driver struck face on steering wheel causing concussion and unconsciousness; Driver hospitalization required for X-ray evaluation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attributed non-deployment to insufficient impact speed; owner disputed this explanation
Passenger seat capacity sensor fault
Sensor malfunction preventing passenger-side airbag activation.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger side airbag will not activate; Fault detected on OBD scanner
Codes mentioned: Passenger seat capacity sensor fault (OBD scanner detected)
Right passenger airbag malfunction
Passenger-side airbag malfunction noted by owner; concurrent parking brake engagement failure also reported.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag malfunction
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Takata recall - I received a notice that my airbag operation is potentially defective. A solution has apparently been identified (grounding the steering wheel?) but it is not yet available. To be clear, I have not had my airbag deploy, I just have not had the issue addressed.
2016 Mercedes benz e400. Consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall. *ld the consumer was informed the parts to repair the vehicle were not yet available. The consumer stated the repair exceeded a reasonable amount of time. *js *js
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-benz e400. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact contacted Mercedes-benz of cherry hill (2151 nj-70, cherry hill, nj 08002; (856) 663-3200) where it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the…
Takata air bag recall. Mercedes refuses to replace or repair. They said there is no remedy available. I feel very unsafe with this car. We live in florida which is high humidity state and high humidity can cause the air bags to explode on their own at any time.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-benz e400a. 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 raleigh (5607 capital blvd, raleigh, nc 27616, (919) 573-5050) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for…
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 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 28 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 20,550 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/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.