Pulling in the parking spot , looking to my right not noticing light pole on the left , car sensor bumped the pole in the perfect spot to deploy all of the drivers airbags . No warning of front collision , no breaks emergency were activated , seatbelt did not tighten threw me against the wheel : suffered , lacerations , broken forearm requiring surgery . Slight scratch on the bumper not even…
2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have filed 19 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
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 E-Class | 55 |
| 2014 E-Class | 54 |
| 2015 E-Class | 11 |
| 2016 E-Class | 28 |
| 2017 E-Class (this page) | 19 |
| 2019 E-Class | 3 |
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 19 airbags complaints filed for the 2017 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint across 19 narratives is Takata passenger airbag recall parts unavailability. Owners began receiving recall notices in January 2019 (campaigns 17V080000, 17V627000, 19V010000) but dealerships—including branches in Brooklyn, Palm Springs, Long Beach, Sarasota, and White Plains—consistently reported that replacement airbags were out of stock. Mercedes-Benz repeatedly promised parts would arrive (November 2020, May 2020) but failed to deliver. Some owners waited over two years without a repair. Dealers sometimes refused to service vehicles not purchased at their location, and manufacturer customer service failed to respond to escalation calls.
Beyond recall delays, owners report live safety defects: a weight-sensing control unit failure that disabled front passenger airbag deployment; a driver airbag squib showing an open circuit despite multiple replacement attempts, with technicians suspecting a faulty clock spring; and a seat pressure sensor that routinely fails and disables passenger airbag protection, clearing only when the car is turned off. One owner suffered a broken forearm and lacerations when all driver airbags deployed during a gentle parking lot tap against a light pole, with no warning and no seatbelt pretension. Several owners stopped driving their vehicles or refuse to carry passengers due to these safety concerns.
Same Mercedes-Benz E-Class airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Passenger Airbag Recall – Parts Unavailability
Owners received recall notices (campaigns 17V080000, 17V627000, 19V010000) for defective Takata passenger airbags but dealerships could not obtain replacement parts. Mercedes-Benz exceeded reasonable timeframes for repair completion, with some owners waiting over two years without resolution. Multiple dealers confirmed parts were not available and remained unavailable for extended periods.
When: Recall notices received January 2019 onwards; parts unavailable as of late 2020 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received for Takata airbag defect; Dealership unable to source replacement parts; Manufacturer repeatedly stated parts unavailable; No communication from dealer or manufacturer regarding availability
Codes mentioned: 17V080000, 17V627000, 19V010000
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger airbag replacement required; parts not available at dealership locations including Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn, Mercedes-Benz of Palm Springs, Mercedes-Benz of Long Beach, Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota, Mercedes-Benz of White Plains, and others
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall campaigns 17V080000, 17V627000, 19V010000 issued; manufacturer stated parts would become available (promised November 2020 in one case, May 2020 in another) but failed to deliver timely repairs
Front Right Airbag Malfunction – Weight Sensing Control Unit
Warning light indicated front right airbag malfunction. Dealership diagnostics revealed airbag seat cushion and weight-sensing control unit required repair or replacement. Owner reported the condition was not covered by extended warranty and posed a safety risk, as front passenger airbag might not deploy in an accident.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Warning light: 'Front Right Malfunction Service Required'; Front passenger airbag inoperative or disabled; Airbag seat cushion malfunction; Weight-sensing control unit failure
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag seat cushion repair/replacement and weight-sensing control unit repair/replacement required; not covered by extended warranty
Driver Airbag Squib Circuit Open – Clock Spring Malfunction
Airbag warning light illuminated with diagnostic code indicating open circuit in driver airbag squib (stage 1). Multiple replacement airbags and clock spring inspection did not resolve the issue; technicians suspect internal clock spring failure preventing proper airbag circuit continuity.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates on startup; Diagnostic code B000113 detected; Driver airbag stage 1 squib shows open circuit
Codes mentioned: B000113
Repairs/costs cited: New airbag installed but condition persisted; clock spring suspected as root cause but not definitively repaired
Front Passenger Seat Pressure Sensor Repeated Failures
Supplemental restraint system (SRS) seat pressure sensor for front passenger position routinely malfunctions, disabling the passenger airbag. Error clears when vehicle is turned off but recurs repeatedly. Sensor recalibration has been performed multiple times without lasting resolution.
When: Recurring intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger airbag disabled by sensor error; Error code appears during operation; Error clears when vehicle is powered off; Condition recurs repeatedly after clearing
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor recalibration attempted multiple times; condition persists
Airbag Deployment from Minor Impact
Vehicle airbags deployed during a low-speed parking maneuver with minimal contact. Owner gently bumped a light pole while parking and all driver airbags deployed without warning. Seatbelt did not pretension. Owner sustained serious injury despite negligible property damage.
When: During parking maneuver
Symptoms owners cite: Complete airbag deployment from minor collision; No warning light or braking intervention; Seatbelt did not tighten/pretension; Owner thrown against steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Airbags deployed; owner suffered lacerations and broken forearm requiring surgery
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I am waiting to buy this car but do not want to buy until the airbags are fixed. The car has remained on recall of airbags since jan. 2019.
Had airbags trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 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 19 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 16,274 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/2017/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.