The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A wrong clamp May have been installed on the window air bag units.
The risk
The window air bag May not fully deploy in a side-impact collision, increasing the risk of injury to the vehicle occupant.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the window air bag units and, if the wrong or incorrectly installed clamp is found, the entire unit will be replaced.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 98V-256 (98V256000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Component | Air bags › Side/window |
| Report date | October 14, 1998 |
| Owners notified | November 20, 1998 |
| Vehicles affected | 4,163 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 98V-256 repair free?
Yes. Mercedes-Benz dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will inspect the window air bag units and, if the wrong or incorrectly installed clamp is found, the entire unit will be replaced.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 4,163 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.