Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Takata recall. I have been corresponding with the local dealer (fresno california) and the national office since I received the notice in May 2016. We have been very reluctant to drive the car for fear of "serious injury or death" as stated in the notice. When I call the local dealer, they say we have to go to headquarters and deny any responsibility--very unhelpful. Also note that this car experienced a faulty airbag deployment about 2 years ago (before the recall) and Mercedes fixed the problem at no charge. My daughter was injured in the incident, but her injuries did not surface until after Mercedes had us sign a settlement agreement. Her hearing and equilibrium has been impaired from the explosion of the airbag on the driver's side when she bumped a curb at a slow speed and they deployed. All of that information would be in Mercedes files--we have copies. …
Takata recall. I have scheduled an appointment to replace the airbag infiltrator since I received a letter in the mail that the part is available. The dealer has tried several times to contact the manufacturer and the part is on back order. It is a safety concern for me and my wife and has been causing worries and a concern to drive the car on a daily basis with a child one year old going back and fourth to school and day care. With a defect in the airbag that my cause injury or death due to the infiltrator causing the airbag to explode and shoot out metal fragments towards people inside vehicle. We are concerned and always stressed out about this issue but we need this vehicle we cannot just park it and not drive it till the issue is fixed. The dealership will not offer any alternative in the meantime until the part comes in.
The manufacturer of the airbag has filed a bankruptcy claim and we have no resolution to fix this airbag ever. The car now is unsellable as its a deathtrap and no one will buy it and no dealer really wants to take it back so im stuck with this car and need to get it replaced. We need a serious remedy not only from Takata but from the vehicle manufacturer that purchased these airbags without further testing. I demand a vehicle replacement or a complete buy out of the car so I can be free of this contract and be able to purchase a new vehicle that is safe for my family and myself.
Takata recall. Received letter from dealer to say that they now have information as to the recall of the driver side airbag but haven't heard anything since. Its been nearly a year. I called dealer who says that its just that the bag inflates too fast and is not a big deal, but he is wrong about the defect. The defect is that the bag produces shrapnel when inflated that can and has caused deaths of drivers.
Air bag recall, we have not received any thing from Mercedes Benz. We are very concerned, we drive the car daily, approx 100 miles or more.. Want to get into shop to have it replaced...[redacted] '
Takata recall. I am currently living 79 miles from my job and I need to trade in my car. Because of the Takata airbags I cannot get the full value for my car nor will some car dealership take the car. After running a car fax my care value is reduced by $4000 dollars.
Takata recall: it has been almost a year since receiving news that my vehicle has been recalled for the Takata airbag and I am still being told by Mercedes Benz USA that they do not have the parts to fix my car and they have no idea when they will be getting them. Now, a year is an awful long time to drive a car with an air bag that could explode and kill me. This is not okay. I have been told that your administration is in charge of prioritizing which vehicles get replacement airbags and I would like to know what data you are using to determine who gets to live and who will be collateral damage??? My nephews who both drive Ford mustangs have had their airbags replaced ages ago - why am I still being told there is no replacement date in sight for me?????? I want my replacement airbag and I want it now, I have waited long enough!
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V081000 (air bags); however, the contact was unable to get the recall completed due to the SRS warning indicator being illuminated. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Mercedes-Benz of rockville centre (110 graham ave, hempstead, ny) was contacted and refused to perform the repair without charge due to the SRS warning indicator being illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350. 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 remedy. The dealer was not notified. An independent mechanic advised the contact to replace the driver's air bag. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that they were awaiting allocation from the government for the air bags. The contact received a postcard from tk holdings, alerting her that they filed for bankruptcy. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350. 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. Mercedes-Benz of el dorado hills (1000 Mercedes ln, el dorado hills, ca 95762, [phone]) 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. Parts distribution disconnect.
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 ML350 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350, 43% of the model year's 93 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-081 (inflator module, Feb 11, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 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.