Airbag complaints by model year
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Description of Incident:The electronic ignition module suffered a sudden failure due to unsealed manufacturer water intrusion, leaving the vehicle completely stranded with an immediate safety hazard. Component failed & available for inspection: Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS) module / Ignition Control Module. Yes, it is available for inspection. Safety risk: The sudden failure causes an immediate safety hazard by leaving the vehicle completely stranded with no way to shift the transmission into neutral to pull it out of harm's way. Confirmed by dealer/independent center: NO, the vehicle has not been towed to a shop yet due to the high cost of repairs. Inspected by manufacturer/police/insurance: NO Warning lamps or symptoms prior: There were no warning messages. The ignition system simply went completely dead without warning.
Tl* the contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. While approaching a stop light at 40 MPH with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated without warning as if the accelerator pedal were depressed. The contact depressed the brake pedal harder to stop the vehicle. In addition, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Mercedes-Benz of pleasanton (located at 5885 owens dr, pleasanton, ca 94588, [phone]) to be diagnosed, but a failure code could not be located. The vehicle was not repaired and the failures recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 5,628.
Tl* the contact owns 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. While driving 40-45 MPH, the contact was involved in a crash with a school bus traveling north at 30 MPH. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was not injured; however, several children on the school bus sustained minor injuries. Three students sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to a local tow lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 19,000. 'parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6).'
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 19V003000 (air bags) and 19V004000 (air bags). The contact called john g. Ledford jr. For Mercedes Benz of athens at [phone] (located at 4735 atlanta highway, athens, ga 30622) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when both parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available for 19V004000 (air bags) and parts distribution disconnect for 19V003000 (air bags). Consumer stated parts dept had new air bags available but would not sell it to the consumer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. While rotating the seats, the seat belt and air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,657.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V004000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Mercedes-Benz of north orlando (1100 rinehart rd, sanford, fl 32771) 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. Consumer stated air bags replaced no longer sagety problem.
Takata recall -- I continue to get postcards and/or emails from Mercedes Benz regarding the nhsta recall #16V077. The latest email came today. But I had the recall work done on August 24, 2018. Apparently Mercedes Benz does not know that the recall has been performed, even though the Mercedes Benz dealer who performed the recall work assures me that there are no outstanding recalls on this vehicle.
Takata recall I was notified about a year ago of the recall of my Sprinter. Campaign 2016020010 . Recall status: recall incomplete. Remedy not yet available we travel all over the country from alaska to fla and live in arizona. This makes the inflator subject to all the extremes of weather. We want it fixed now. We were told not to drive vehicle, who is going cover the loss of value and use.
Related recalls (10)
Air bags › Side/window
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles equipped with electrically adjustable front swivel-seats. The wiring harnesses for the swivel-seats may have been incorrectly installed and may become damaged, which can cause the front side air bags not to deploy as intended.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reattach the wiring harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Air bags › Passenger side frontal › Cushion
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling 2019-2021 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with swivel seats. The wiring harnesses for the front seats may have been routed incorrectly and could become jammed and damaged in the swivel seat frames.
Remedy: Dealers will attach the mounting clip to the correct position, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 11, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The airbag systems may not have been activated after vehicle production.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to determine if the airbag systems have been activated, correcting them as necessary, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the driver frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall is began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Show 5 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2013 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on March 13, 2018. The recall began December 28, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Freightliner and Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled into the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The began on January 12, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012 Freightliner and Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled into the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on January 12, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Air bags
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans. These vehicles were manufactured without a reinforcement plate and protective bracket on the air bag control unit.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install a reinforcement plate and protective bracket around the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler Vans) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 31, 2008, 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2014, and 2010-2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles…
Remedy: Daimler Vans will notify the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners and Fiat Chrysler will notify the Dodge owners. The respective dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, 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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (19), 2014 (19) and 2016 (12) model years. Airbag complaints make up 42% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 airbag problems?
Yes — 10 recalls, including 23V-101 (side/window, Feb 17, 2023); 21V-410 (cushion, Jun 2, 2021); 19V-695 (air bag/restraint control module, Oct 2, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 14,000 miles; 100% happened before 50,000 miles.
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.