Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Takata recall: I received a notice of recall # 16v-08, stating that a defective driver's side airbag could rupture and cause serious injury or death in my 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350. After contacting the manufacturer, I was told that the replacement parts are unavailable and that the wait for recall repairs will be considerable. Meanwhile I'm left driving a car that can seriously injure or kill me in the event of an airbag deployment. I told the manufacturer's representative that this is unacceptable and asked repeatedly for either a loaner car while waiting for parts, or for Mercedes to buy back my car. In no uncertain terms I was told that no such action is possible. Why should I put my life in danger for an unspecified length of time for a defect that Mercedes is responsible? …
Takata recalls, the vehicle steering lock module gave out and the dealership has stop selling the parts for this due to this current unresolved recall having customer go to the dealership for service which is unfair due to extra cost so my vehicle is unable to be driven at all.
Received the letter of recall #15V711 in December 2015, according to which SRS control unit shall be replaced by authorized mb dealer or mbusa within 60 days free of charge, it's March 10th 2016 now, nothing happened, mb didn't make the repair or even contact me.
Cars SRS light went on in red on dash after gasing and washing vehicle. Took to nervedes dealer and told SRS unit malfunctioning $800 attached diagnoses paid for fix and now there is recall. Will I be reimbursed for this same issue
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz c350w. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V081000 and 17V017000 (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 willoughby (38750 mentor ave #2, willoughby, oh 44094) 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. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V381000 (air bags) and 16V363000 (air bags). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer (Mercedes-Benz of honolulu, 818 kapiolani blvd, honolulu, hi 96813) 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.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16v0810000 (air bags) and 16V363000 (air bags). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer (Mercedes-Benz of annapolis, 324 6th st, annapolis, md 21403) 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.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz c350w. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V081000 and 16V363000 (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 contact called fileds motorcars at [phone] (4141 n florida ave, lakeland, fl 33805) where it was confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available/parts distribution disconnect.
I have been receiving recall letters from Mercedes-Benz since May 2016 for the driver-side Takata air bag and in August 2016 for the passenger Takata air bag as well as mail from tk holdings inc, but have not been able to get my air bags replaced. I was told I was in a latter phase and would hear something by March 2018, but have heard nothing. This is very frustrating. I have less than 45,000 miles on my car, meaning lots of life left in the vehicle, but can't drive the car due to the risk of harm and fatality. I do not want to sell my vehicle. I just want to get my air bags replaced, please!
"Takata recall" there are two recalls on the front airbags one issues in February 11, 2016 and the other May 25, 2016. I've taken my car in several times for service and inquired about the recall. As of today the remedy is not available. There is a fault switch with the headlights in off position the left right turn signal flash when the keys are not in the vehicle. It drains the battery which have replaced twice. We determined that if we keep the light switch in automatic position it does not happen.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013 C250, C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic, GLK350, SLS Coupe, SLS AMG GT Coupe, and SLS Roadster vehicles sold, or ever…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012 C300 4Matic, C250, C250 Coupe, C350, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK350, SLS AMG Cabrio, and SLS AMG Coupe vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification in March 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300 Sedan, C300 4matic Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan vehicles, 2010-2011 GLK350, GLK350 4-Matic and E350 Coupe vehicles, 2011 SLS AMG, E350 Convertible, E550 Coupe and E550 Convertible vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama,…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification October 2016.
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.
Show 1 more recall
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 C300 Sedan, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles, and 2010 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the air bag control unit may corrode and cause the control unit to malfunction.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag control unit and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. Mercedes-Benz issued an interim notification to owners on December 23, 2015.
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 C350 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350, 38% of the model year's 65 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-043 (inflator module, Jan 10, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-017 (inflator module, Jan 10, 2017); NHTSA recall 16V-363 (inflator module, May 26, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury 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.