Recall 16V903 covers 47,799 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz GL, GLE, and GLS vehicles for incorrect passenger-air-bag classification. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 47,799 2016-2017 GL350, GL550, and GLE350 vehicles because the front passenger seat Occupant Classification System can misclassify an occupant as a child seat and turn off the front passenger air bag. In a crash, that air bag can fail to deploy when needed, increasing injury risk; Mercedes-Benz dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System in affected 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz SUVs is the sensor logic that tells the airbag system who is sitting in that seat. It is supposed to tell the difference between an occupant and a child seat, then allow the passenger frontal airbag to stay active when an adult or eligible occupant is seated there.
On these vehicles, the OCS calibration was set for the wrong vehicle setting. A very light occupant sitting on the edge of the front passenger seat and staying still for a long period of time can be incorrectly classified as a child seat. When that happens, the system deactivates the front passenger airbag even though a person is sitting there.
The warning sign is visible in the cabin. A warning message displays in the instrument cluster, and the 'Airbag Off' lamp illuminates in the center console while an occupant is seated in the front passenger seat.
Who's affected?
Scope spans the GL, GLE, and GLS SUV families across 2016 and 2017, with both occupant-classification sensor and front air bag components listed.
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GL350 | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GL350 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL550 | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL550 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43 | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE63S | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE63S | front air bag |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 | air bag system |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350D | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350D | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE300D | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE300D | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE550E | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE550E | front air bag |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GL550 | air bag system |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GL550 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL350 | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL350 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 | front air bag |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | air bag system |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE400 | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE400 | front air bag |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43 | air bag system |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43 | front air bag |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 | air bag system |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 | front air bag |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63 | air bag system |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 47,799 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the front passenger air bag fails to deploy in a crash, the front passenger faces an increased risk of injury. A warning message in the instrument cluster and the "Airbag Off" lamp in the center console signal the problem, even with someone seated in the front passenger seat. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz GL350, GL550, AMG GLE43, GLE350, GLE63S, GLE450, GLE350D, GLE300D, GLE550E, AMG GLE63, GLE400, or AMG GLS63 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the free OCS software update that corrects the front-passenger air bag classification problem.
- Bring the recall notice if Mercedes-Benz mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V903 when you call.
- Limit front passenger use until the software update is complete because the system can misclassify the occupant as a child seat and deactivate the front passenger air bag.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician updates the Occupant Classification System software for the front passenger seat. The update recalibrates the system that decides whether the front passenger air bag stays active for the person in the seat. The recall repair is free, and labor is covered. Mercedes-Benz has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related OCS software repair. Bring repair paperwork and proof of payment to the service desk, or contact Mercedes-Benz customer service to start the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 15, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 18, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V903?
Recall 16V903 covers 47,799 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz GL, GLE, and GLS vehicles with incorrect front passenger Occupant Classification System calibration. The system can misclassify the passenger as a child seat and deactivate the front passenger air bag.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz GL350, GL550, AMG GLE43, GLE350, GLE63S, GLE450, GLE350D, GLE300D, GLE550E, AMG GLE63, GLE400, or AMG GLS63 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V903. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the Occupant Classification System software update. The dealer repair is free.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Mercedes-Benz dealers will update the Occupant Classification System software free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the front passenger air bag can stay deactivated when an adult passenger needs it in a crash. If that air bag does not deploy as necessary, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
What if I bought my Mercedes-Benz used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner, so check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Mercedes-Benz is included and reference recall 16V903 when you call the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V903000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-800-367-6372 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V903 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V903000 |
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 →