Recall 17V017 affects 104,119 2008, 2009, 2012 Mercedes-Benz vehicles for passenger air bag inflators that can rupture. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 104,119 2008, 2009, 2012 C300, C350, and GLK350 vehicles because passenger frontal air bag inflators can rupture after long-term humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture can send metal fragments toward occupants, causing serious injury or death; Mercedes-Benz dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in certain 2008, 2009, 2012 Mercedes-Benz vehicles is the device that fills the passenger air bag during a crash. When the air bag control system commands deployment, the inflator burns a propellant charge to create gas and inflate the bag quickly enough to protect the passenger.
In NHTSA campaign 17V017, the Takata inflator propellant can degrade after years of exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and temperature cycling. If the air bag deploys in a crash, degraded propellant can burn too aggressively. That creates excessive pressure inside the inflator and can rupture the inflator body instead of filling the air bag as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the passenger air bag inflator, so the driver will not hear, feel, or see a clear symptom before a crash deployment.
Who's affected?
Covers 9 Mercedes-Benz model lines from 2008, 2009, and 2012, all tied to the same passenger-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2009 Mercedes-Benz C350 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300 | front air bag |
| 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 | front air bag |
| 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 | front air bag |
| 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 | front air bag |
| 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sls | front air bag |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 104,119 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
An inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the cabin, striking occupants and causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before the inflator ruptures, so schedule the front passenger air bag module replacement soon and ask the dealer how to handle the vehicle before service. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008, 2009, 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350, AMG C63, GLK350, C250, C300, E550, C63, E350, or Sls is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the free front passenger air bag module replacement that removes the recalled inflator.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it. If not, reference recall number 17V017 when you call the dealer.
- Call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-877-496-3691 with questions about parts availability or dealer scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician replaces the front passenger air bag module covered by this recall. The replacement parts and labor are free. If you already paid for a related front passenger air bag repair before recall service, contact Mercedes-Benz customer service with your documentation under the reimbursement plan on file. The service desk can confirm the claim path and attach your prior repair paperwork to the visit.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 10, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 18, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| March 10, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 31, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V017?
Recall 17V017 covers 104,119 Mercedes-Benz vehicles with passenger front air bag inflators that can rupture after long-term humidity and temperature exposure. The recall includes specific 2008, 2009, and 2012 models tied to registration history. Mercedes-Benz dealers replace the passenger air bag module for free.
What should I do if my 2008, 2009, or 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350, AMG C63, GLK350, C250, C300, E550, C63, E350, or Sls is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V017. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the passenger front air bag module replacement. Reference recall 17V017 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Mercedes-Benz dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 17V017?
The risk is tied to the passenger front air bag inflator. In a crash where the front air bags deploy, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Mercedes-Benz fixes the defect by replacing the passenger air bag module for free.
What if I bought my Mercedes-Benz used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Mercedes-Benz is included, then contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and reference recall 17V017 when you schedule service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V017000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-877-496-3691 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V017 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V017000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →