RecallNotify
Sign up Check my VIN
Home/ Recalls/ Mercedes-Benz/ 16V081
Campaign 16V081 Posted February 11, 2016 711,159 units

2005-2014 Mercedes-Benz Multi-Model Recall 16V081: Air Bag

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 31, 2026

Recall 16V081 covers 711,159 2005-2014 Mercedes-Benz vehicles for a driver's air bag inflator rupture risk. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 711,159 2005-2014 vehicles, including C300, ML350, GL450, SLK350, and Crossfire models, because the driver's frontal air bag inflator can rupture during deployment. In a crash, metal fragments can strike the driver or passengers and cause serious injury or death; Mercedes-Benz dealers will complete the repair free of charge.

Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?

The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.

Check my VIN at NHTSA

RecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.

What's wrong?

The driver's frontal air bag inflator in these 2005-2014 Mercedes-Benz vehicles is the metal canister inside the steering-wheel air bag. When a crash triggers the air bag, propellant inside the inflator burns quickly and creates gas that fills the bag in front of the driver. The inflator has to build pressure, but that pressure is supposed to stay controlled inside the part.

This recall involves Takata PSDI-5 inflators. Takata reported that the propellant tablets in affected inflators can change over time after exposure to persistent high absolute humidity. If the air bag deploys after that change, the propellant can burn too aggressively. That creates excessive internal pressure, and the inflator body can rupture instead of only filling the air bag as designed.

There is no warning sign before failure. The problem only appears if the driver's frontal air bag deploys, so an owner cannot confirm it by listening for a noise, watching for a light, or checking how the vehicle drives.

Who's affected?

The scope crosses passenger cars and SUVs built with the same front air bag component.

2011 Mercedes-Benz E63 front air bag
2011 Mercedes-Benz ML63 front air bag
2012 Mercedes-Benz GL350 front air bag
2011 Mercedes-Benz GL350 front air bag
2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 front air bag
Units affected711,159
Field incidentsNHTSA has logged no field incidents to date.

The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.

What's the safety risk?

In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. Treat this as a safety repair and schedule service soon; the vehicle's year and model alone do not confirm inclusion. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2005-2014 Mercedes-Benz model is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the free driver's frontal air bag module replacement that addresses the inflator rupture risk.
  3. Bring the recall notice if Mercedes-Benz mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V081 when you call.
  4. Call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372 with questions about scheduling or owner notice details.
  5. Drive with extra care until the repair is complete, and avoid delaying the free air bag repair once the dealer appointment is available.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician replaces the driver's frontal air bag module covered by recall 16V081. The replacement module, parts, and labor are free under the recall. The repair addresses the driver's frontal air bag inflator rupture risk by replacing the module instead of repairing the old unit. For prior out-of-pocket repairs tied to this driver's air bag module, Mercedes-Benz said the owner letter provides the pre-notice reimbursement instructions. Use that letter when asking the service desk how to submit a claim.

ReimbursementReimbursement available

Timeline

February 11, 2016 NHTSA published the recall
October 18, 2016 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 16V081?

Recall 16V081 covers 711,159 2005-2014 Mercedes-Benz vehicles with a driver frontal air bag inflator that can rupture during deployment. Referenced from NHTSA campaign 16V081, metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death.

What should I do if my 2005-2014 Mercedes-Benz vehicle is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V081. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and ask for the driver frontal air bag module replacement. Reference recall number 16V081 when you call. The repair is free.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Mercedes-Benz dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for vehicles included in recall 16V081.

What is the safety risk in recall 16V081?

The safety risk is metal-fragment injury during a crash. Referenced from NHTSA campaign 16V081, excessive internal pressure during driver air bag deployment can rupture the inflator and send metal fragments toward the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

What if I bought my Mercedes-Benz vehicle used?

The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, then call a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and reference recall number 16V081.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V081000
Mercedes-Benz customer service1-800-367-6372
NHTSA recall #16V081
NHTSA recall # (full)16V081000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →