Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at various speeds, she depressed the brake pedal but it hesitated to respond. As a result, excessive force was applied to the brake pedal in order to slow down the vehicle. Due to the failure, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the barrier wall and the metal fence. No air bags were deployed. The contact's daughter sustained a fractured nose, lip laceration, and other unknown facial injuries due to the driver hitting the steering wheel during the impact. No medical attention was contacted yet but will be in the future. A police report was filed. The police transferred the vehicle from the crash site to a tow yard where the police are awaiting the insurance adjustor. Damages were to the front end. The manufacturer nor the dealer was contacted about the failure. …
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-250. The contact stated that the driver's side seat air bag warning light was illuminated. The air bag was visible through the seat and was able to be moved manually. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V010000 (Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included in the recall, and the recall referenced the front passenger's seat air bag. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,300.
I was in an accident that caused my car to be a total loss. I was hit near the front left side, close to the driver's door. The airbag did not deploy despite the hard impact. I am currently having to go to therapy due to impact. My right lower arm was bruised from the impact, and I was in a lot of pain due to the bruising caused. I am assuming the bruising came from the hit to the steering wheel. I was never notified of an airbag recall.
The passenger airbag was replaced under the Takata recall. Recently the airbag indicator light came on for the driver airbag. We have been notified by the dealership that this airbag needs replaced. They provided an estimate of $2,652.29. We reached out to Mercedes due to this being a safety issue and also due to the fact that the passenger airbag was replaced under a recall. They are unwilling to assist. It is illogical that just the passenger airbag is faulty in the recall but that the driver's airbag is fine as they came from the same manufacturer and installed when the vehicle was built. We are concerned about either deploying on its own or if it will deploy in an accident.
The contact owned a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V010000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the issue. The local dealer was not notified.
I was driving on I-10 eastbound at approximately mile marker 180 to 182, when I made a lane change to let a faster moving vehicle pass me. I went from the left to right lane with the cruise control set at 70 or 75 MPH, (speed limit on I-10 is 75 MPH). Upon entering the right lane I saw a tractor trailer brake lights, and I slammed on the brake in my c 250, and it caused the car wheels to locked up, which also caused the car to skid, and swerve the back end. The c 250 did slow down some, but came to a complete stop after the c 250 impacted the rear bumper of the trailer attached on the tractor trailer truck. The c 250 slide approximately 200 feet, there were tire tracks on the pavement, which shows the tires locked up. The rear ended of the car also swerved, and it didn't seem like the c 250 was slowing down, once the brakes were applied. There was also some skipping of the tires. …
The current vehicle I have, is suppose to have a back up camera as part of being the basic standard for a 2014 C- class mercedes Benz. Ive asked the place I bought he car from and also Ed hicks imports, who also legally sells mercedes Benz in Corpus Christi, to install one, especially because according to the vin reports I bought, it was initially on the vehicle. I was even willing to pay them to install a factory made original MB backup camera that should've been there in the first place but they tell me to go buy an aftermarket! After further research, it turns out mercedes Benz makes all their cars with backup cameras or the PARKTRONIC option which is added sensors !!! Before my car was even brought over to the USA in 2014! Yes, all of these issues have been confirmed by another dealer, which is auto nation here!!!! …
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Mercedes Benz c240 n/a. The contact stated that her son was involved in a crash with another vehicle running a red light. The other vehicle crashed into the passenger side door. The air bags to both passenger and driver's side doors did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and it took two months to repair the vehicle with the passenger side door needing to be replaced. The dealer and the manufacturer had not been contacted yet. The failure mileage was 65,000. Invalid VIN.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250. While driving 60 MPH, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and caused the contact to sustain rib injuries and a broken toe, which required medical attention. The contact was unaware of the injuries to the other driver. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent auto collision center. The dealer was not contacted to determine the cause of the air bag failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2014 Mercedes Benz C250. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, a crash was attempted to be avoided causing the contact to crash into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained face lacerations and the passenger sustained a shoulder injury that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and a police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,000.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air bags › Frontal
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
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 C250 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250?
NHTSA has 93 complaints about the air bags of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250, 57% of the model year's 163 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-638 (frontal, Aug 13, 2021); NHTSA recall 19V-010 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2019); NHTSA recall 17V-627 (frontal, Oct 6, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2014 Mercedes-Benz C250 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 0 fires and 11 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.