2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Air Bags & Restraints Problems

I was driving normally last week when the driver's head restraint system (known by Mercedes as Neck Pro) unexpectedly and without warning blew at my head. The noise was very loud, and the headrest slammed against my head. Luckily, I was driving approximately 20-25 miles per hour, daytime, on a residential street without too many other vehicles. I was able to pull over to investigate what happened and ensure I wasn't injured and did not collide with any objects in the road. If this had happened on the highway at highway speeds with a less attentive driver, I could see this potentially resulting in a major collision. The road was fat, no bumps, weather was clear. There is no reason why this happened. From what I can tell, the system looks like it failed (plastic clips broke off) and the system did not intentionally deploy. It has not been repaired and is available for inspection. I have not taken it to the dealership for review. The vehicle is in perfect condition with no warnings. It very recently passed Maryland state inspection.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated that she noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted because the vehicle had been serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V638000 (Air Bags) and the dealer stated that the seat belt was malfunctioning. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 78,000.

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the driver’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who cleared the code. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,541.

MY MERCEDES HAS A RECALL FOR THE TAKATA AIR BAGS. I DO NOT LIVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN ORANGE PARK, FL WHICH IS AROUND 85 MILES AWAY. I HAVE, ALSO, SPOKEN TO MERCEDES CUSTOMER CARE. NEITHER WILL ASSIST IN HAVING MY CAR PICKED UP AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP OR ARE THEY OFFERING ANY ASSISTANCE IN REMOVING A BARRIER TO HAVE THE AIR BAG REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT RECALL BUT HOW DO I COMPLY AND MITIGATE RISK OF INJURY IF MERCEDES IS NOT WILLING TO HELP CAR OWNERS WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS? PLEASE ADVISE.

PLEASE ALLOW THIS TO SERVE AS A LIMITED NOTICE TO I) MERCEDES-BENZ AG, II) MBUSA AND III) DAIMLER AG OF A NEW TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATOR RUPTURE FOR TREAD COMPLIANCE PURPOSES. THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250W,VIN#: ***************** (THE 'VEHICLE'). I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SEVERELY INJURED ON 11/7/2020 WHEN THE PASSENGER-SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE IMPROPERLY RUPTURED DURING A CRASH EVENT DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF THE RUPTURE. DUE TO THE VIOLENT EXPLOSION OF THE INFLATOR MODULE, THE INFLATOR'S IGNITER CAPS AND HOUSING BLEW APART AND STRUCK THE PASSENGER, A YOUNG FEMALE, IN THE FACE AND HEAD WITH LETHAL VELOCITY. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA. THE YOUNG FEMALE PASSENGER HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOR 2 WEEKS WITH SEVERE INJURIES AND MULTIPLE SURGICAL PROCEDURES. HER CURRENT INJURIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF VISION IN HER LEFT EYE, COGNITIVE TRAUMA, FACIAL PARALYSIS AND DIMINISHED HEARING CAPACITY IN BOTH EARS: AS SHOWN BELOW, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG MODULE BLEW APART (AS WE HAVE SEEN IN MULTIPLE PASSENGER-SIDE TAKATA BAGS)'DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF AMMONIUM NITRATE PROPELLANT USED IN THIS MODEL FOR DEPLOYMENT. THE BELOW IMAGES SHOW PIECES OF THE INFLATOR MODULE POST-EXPLOSION, INCLUDING THE INFLATOR MESH, HOUSING AND IGNITER CAPS FROM STAGE 2 SEPARATION. ## VIN PASSED ## 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250W ##*DT*DT*JB *TR

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ C300 2012 ##

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF SALT LAKE CITY (575 S STATE ST, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF CONSUMER STATED HE HAS CALLED THE DEALER NUMEROUS OF TIMES.*JB

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. 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 CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF RALEIGH (5607 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC 27616 (919) 573-5050) AND MERCEDES-BENZ OF DURHAM (110 KENTINGTON DR, DURHAM, NC 27713, (919) 794-7077) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. 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. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

AIRBAGS NOT REPLACED!

NO REMEDY FOR AIRBAG RECALL.

MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE TAKATA AIRBAGS AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MBZUSA IT WILL BE OVER A YEAR BEFORE THEY HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). MERCEDES BENZ OF CHANTILLY LOCATED AT 14841 STONECROFT CENTER CT, CHANTILLY, VA 20151, WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TAKATA RECALL

TWO YRS AGO RECEIVED LETTER STATING TAKATA AIRBAG ON FRONT PAX SIDE IS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, TIMELINE TO REPAIR IS CONTINOUSLY BEING PUSHED BACK EACK YEAR!

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT 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 FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TAKATA RECALL - MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER2018030010. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED ON 1/18/2017 BUT NOW IT'S JUNE 2019 AND THE RECALL STATUS IS STILL SHOWING "RECALL INCOMPLETE, REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE"... THIS IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. PLEASE URGE MERCEDES TO TAKE ACTION RIGHT AWAY

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS). AFTER CONTACTING MERCEDES-BENZ OF PALM SPRINGS (4095 E. PALM CANYON DR, PALM SPRINGS, CA) AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

AIR BAG RECALL NOT REPAIRED AND CAN RESULT IN FATALITY

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES BENZ OF BUFFALO LOCATED AT (8185 MAIN STREET, WILLIAMSVILLE, NY 14221), CONFIRMED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.