Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
SRS WARNING LIGHT ON. REPLACED SEAT CONTROL A 211 870 05 26. NO HELP. SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SERVICE DECIDED TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT FRAME AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $2,800 INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR. SRS CODE WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND JUST STARTED IN ENCLOSED PARKING SPACE WITH DOOR OPEN.
TAKATA RECALL: THE SRS LIGHT IN MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. IT JUST HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WITHOUT ANY REASON. MY CONCERN IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT, WOULD THE AIR BAGS STILL WORK. I'M WONDERING IF THIS ISSUE COMES FROM THE MANUFACTURE BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF SOME OF THE BENZ FROM THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME ISSUE
CAR WAS ELEVATED ON A 2 POST CAR LIFT AND WE WERE WORKING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY. 2 SHARP BLOWS WERE STRUCK ON A BOLT HEAD ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WITH A HAMMER IN AN EFFORT TO LOOSEN THE BOLT. AFTER THE SECOND BLOW, THE DRIVERS SIDE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE SWITCHED LANES INTO THE PATH OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A CURB TO AVOID THE OTHER VEHICLE. SOME OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SMOKE APPEARED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING CHIME WAS AUDIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING CHIME CONTINUED UNTIL THE SEAT BELT WAS SECURED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. MERCEDES-BENZ OF FLORENCE (2199 DAVID H MCLEOD BLVD, FLORENCE, SC 29501, (843) 410-5188) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT DECLINED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
PURCHASE THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2017 SMELLS LIKE GAS IS SEEPING OUT FROM SOMEWHERE. STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING CAR AND AIRBAG SUSPENSION LIGHT IS ON.
THE DRIVER OF THE MERCEDES WAS TRAVELING EAST ON INTERSTATE 80 IN A RURAL AREA OF CALIFORNIA. THE DRIVER CLAIMS TO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE TRAVERSING A LEFT CURVE IN THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE LAUNCHED OFF A SLIGHT DOWNHILL EMBANKMENT SOUTH OF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE TRAVERSED AN UNDULATED VEGETATIVE AREA PRIOR TO STRIKING A LARGE DIAMETER TREE WITH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS RIGHT OF THE CENTER OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE WEARING THEIR TYPE-2 SAFETY BELTS. AFTER STRIKING THE TREE, THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE AND CAME TO REST ON ITS ROOF. THE DRIVER FRONT AND SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS DID THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAG. THE FRONT PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION. THE INVESTIGATING CHP OFFICER OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND REQUESTED AN EVALUATION OF THE SYSTEM DUE TO A PERCEIVED POTENTIAL SRS SYSTEM FAILURE. CHP MULTIDISCIPLINARY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION TEAM (MAIT) EVALUATED THE SYSTEM (SEE INCLUDED MAIT INVESTIGATION). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER DID NOT RECODE THE SCN, BUT RATHER EMPTIED THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACED THE FUEL AND THE FUEL LEVER SENSOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13003 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT REPORTED THE SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR, WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN PE: 10017 (AIR BAGS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MORE THAN TWICE, BUT THE FAILURES PERSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
CABLE HARNESS AND CONNECTORS IN STEERING COLUMN AIRBAG, POOR CONNECTION FROM USING STEERING WHEEL. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS DISINTEGRATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FRONT THRUST ARMS WITH BUSHINGS HAD TORN BOOTS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TRANSMISSION DATA LINK CONNECTOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING A 2005 E320 MERCEDES AND HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE PASSES THE STOP SIGN AND WE HAD A CAR ACCIDENT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLORED AND I WAS INJURED. *TR
2005 MERCEDES E320 STEERING COLUMN WIRING FAILURE ( 'CLOCK SPRING" & STEERING WIRING MODULE & SRS AIR BAG "FAILURE). PARTIAL REPAIR CORRECTED LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS, HORN AND SPEEDOMETER AT A COST TO ME ( OWNER OF $749.). ONE DAY LATER SRS (AIR BAG FAIL INDICATOR) CAME ON AGAIN. BACK TO DEALER WHO SAID A WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN IS ALSO BAD & NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN ADDITIONAL FEE OF $516. BUT THAT THEY WOULD DO REPAIR FOR $429. ??? DID NOT AFFECT REPAIR YET. JUST NOTICED DEFECT INVESTIGATION?? WHAT SHOULD I DO ?? (FAILURE LIGHT FOR SRS IS STILL ON ETC.). CAN I RECOVER (PAST $749) AND FUTURE? ($516 / $429) COSTS??? *TR
SRS MALFUNCTION LIGHT GOES ON. *TR
"AIRBAG FAILURE" THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON MY 2005 MERCEDES E320 CDI. I PAID THE DEALER $100+ TO PULL THE CODES AND IT WAS THE AIRBAG CONNECTOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SINCE I WORK ON THE CAR MYSELF AND IT WAS JUST OUT OF OUT OF WARRANTY (30,000 MILES BUT 4 YEARS AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS). I BOUGHT ANOTHER CONNECTOR AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. I HAVE A 1992 MERCEDES AND IT HAS GOLD PINS ON THE AIRBAG CIRCUIT WHEREAS THIS 'NEW' CAR HAS GREY 'ZINC' PINS. *TR
SRS INDICATOR LAMP ON. THE SRS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND DASH DISPLAY REPORTS COMPLETE FAILURE OF ALL SRS SYSTEMS. ERROR CODE 9103, DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR AND WIRE, AIRBAG LINE TO STEERING COLUMN, CAUSED ENTIRE SRS SHUTDOWN. *TR
SRS (PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM) FAILURE. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING CAR WITH MESSAGE THE SRS HAD MALFUNCTIONED WHICH COULD CAUSE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO VERIFIED COMPLAINT. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN SIX MONTHS THAT THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED. DEALER PERFORMED THE EXACT SAME SERVICE AS THEY DID ON THE SECOND FAILURE (6/29/06). THEY REWIRED THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM PER INSTRUCTIONS FROM MERCEDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. *NM
SRS LIGHT ON - MESSAGE ON DASH THAT SRS HAS MALFUNCTIONED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON 2/20/06 AND WAS TOLD I COULD WAIT FOR CAR. AS IT TURNED OUT I DID NOT GET MY CAR BACK UNTIL 6PM ON 2/22/06. PER DEALER'S REPAIR INVOICE...CHECK CODES AND EVALUATE. CHECK ACTUAL VALUES AND CHECK DTB. PERFORM REPAIRS, REPLACE WIRING TO STEERING WHEEL CONTROL MODULE. ON 06/29/06 SRS LIGHT ON AGAIN WITH MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. TOOK TO DEALER AND ADVISED SAME PROBLEM AS ON 2/20/06. CAR IS AT DEALER AWAITING REPAIR AND HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR TODAY, 6/30/06. *NM
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OUT OF SERVICE 18 DAYS, SRS/AIRBAG FAILURES OUT OF SERVICE 18 DAYS, AC/DEFROST BLOWER MOTOR FAILURES OUT OF SERVICE 12 DAYS, BRAKES OUT OF SERVICE 9 DAYS, TRANSMISSION (IDLE SURGE/UP SHIFTING/STALLING) OUT OF SERVICE 10 DAYS, FRONT END/TIRES OUT OF SERVICE 10 DAYS. DURING THE LEMON LAW FINAL REPAIR ATTEMPT, THE DEALER WROTE ON WORK ORDER THAT THEY HAD INSTALLED NEW BRAKES BECAUSE THEY FOUND "AFTER MARKET BRAKES" ON CAR. THE ONLY PLACE THE CAR HAS EVER BEEN SERVICED WAS THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. WE ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER (FIRST THEY SAID THE BRAKES WERE THROWN OUT AND THEN THEY SAID THE PARTS WERE SHIPPED TO MB) AND WROTE TWO CERTIFIED LETTERS TO MERCEDES BENZ FOR THE REMOVED PARTS SO WE COULD TRACK THE SERIAL NUMBERS. WE WERE IGNORED. THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE WHO INITIATED THE "BRAKE REPLACEMENT" WAS CONVENIENTLY "PROMOTED OUT OF THE AREA" JUST BEFORE THE LEMON LAW HEARING SO HE COULD NOT BE QUESTIONED. WE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BRAKES, ESPECIALLY THE STOPPING DISTANCE, FROM THE BEGINNING AND THEY KEPT SAYING NO PROBLEM FOUND. THE DEALER WOULD NOT DOCUMENT IT ON THE WORK ORDERS. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. WHEN A CHILD OR A PERSON UNDER THE WEIGHT GUIDELINES SAT IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT BE ACTIVATED. THE LIGHT CAME ON/OFF RANDOMLY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF THE AIR BAG WAS FUNCTIONING WHEN NECESSARY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOUR TIMES, AND HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE DEALER PLANNED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE IN DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
DT: SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HE RAN OVER A PIECE OF RUBBER IN THE ROAD, ALL THREE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SERVICE DEALER STATES THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR WERE JOLTED BECAUSE OF HITTING THE RUBBER IN THE ROAD. CONTACT STATES WHILE DECELERATING THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM SLOWS DOWN TOO MUCH AND VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC HAS NO BRAKE CONTROL.*AK
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN HER 2005 MERCEDES E320 WHICH DAMAGED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM A SPECIAL EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAGS PERFORMED AS THE SHOULD BECAUSE THE COLLISION WAS A LATERAL IMPACT. *NM
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
SRS (PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE) WARNING LAMP CAME ON WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE (2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230 SPORT SEDAN) WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AS DIRECTED BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS SINCE 7/26/04. ON 8/17/04 THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT REPAIRED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE OVER TWENTY (20) VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURE AWAITING PARTS. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL REPAIRED AND WOULD NOT LET ME TAKE THE CAR FROM THE REPAIR FACILITY. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .