Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a side impact collision with a firetruck. The air bags deployed. There were three injuries that required medical attention. The front driver sustained lacerations to the face due to the air bag deployment, the passenger sustained brain damage, and the rear passenger sustained moderate bruising and pain. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed destroyed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V081000 (air bags) after the crash. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. *
Tl contact owns a 2006 Mercedes Benz C230. While merging onto an intersection at 10 MPH, another vehicle crashed directly into the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle sustained severe damage. None of the air bags deployed and the seat belts failed to retract properly. Three occupants were moderately injured. The contact has a copy of the police report and pictures of the failed incident. He is in the process of calling the manufacturer in reference to NHTSA campaign id numbers 05V560000 (air bags). The failure and current mileages were 51,000.
Takata recall- went in for recall SRS light turned on.dealer said it would cost 150- to find out problem, I've said isn' the SRS light is the airbag unit? He said no mechanic is going work if the red light is on, unless the red light not there.so I've asked what if something happens along the way? He said sorry, then( I rescheduled in 5 days. I took car home to get SRS-redligjt off.) at honolulu, Mercedes Benz.
"Takata recall" - no remedy on faulty airbags and received notice that company has filed chapter 11. First notified in 2016, but manufacturer haven't resolved. I'm not sure what the safety impact would be in the event of an accident. No accident has occurred to date.
Hello there, this is my vehicle information 2006 Mercedes Benz C230 sport VIN : ([redacted]) and this is the NHTSA recall number : 16V081 manufacturer recall number : 2018030001 I have started a research after I have experienced too many issues with electrical wiring & headlamps, tailgate lights, stop lights, parking lights and the malfunction on the horn which has stopped working since 2/2/2019. I have also being pulled over by police officers stating that the malfunction on my tail gate lights and stop / brake lights and also headlamps must be repaired asap, I did bought new bulbs and replaced the old bulbs on both low beam headlamps and brake/ stop & parking lights but they only work well for a few days but then they just stop working or work intermittently .... …
Takata airbag recall - I contacted the Mercedes Benz dealership where I purchased my vehicle and told them I did not feel safe driving my vehicle. They immediately forwarded my call to a hotline for Mercedes Benz USA, and I was told that my car is safe to drive and that Mercedes will not offer me a rental car to drive while I wait for replacement parts. They went as far as to send me a letter explicitly saying that they believe "there is no reason for you to stop driving your vehicle." there is no estimated timeline for the replacement parts. There wouldn't be a recall if there wasn't a safety risk and Mercedes Benz isn't doing anything to ease customers' fears or ensure our safety. I live about a mile from the beach and it is humid. Not only do I not feel safe, the resale value of my car is likely impacted if I wanted to purchase a new, safer vehicle. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V081000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (Mercedes-Benz of reno, 11500 s virginia st, reno, nv 89511) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was contacted at [phone] and stated that they were not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. A case number was not provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V081000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (Mercedes-Benz of greensboro located at 819 norwalk st, greensboro, nc 27407; [phone]) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was contacted at [phone] and stated that the parts were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V081000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V081000 (air bags). The part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The prestige motors dealer informed the contact that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that the repair was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic,…
Remedy: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Airbag complaints in other C230 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230, 22% of the model year's 116 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-081 (inflator module, Feb 11, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Mercedes-Benz C230 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.