Recall 17V818 affects 8 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT vehicles for a passenger air bag classification defect. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 8 2017-2018 AMG GT C Roadster, AMG GT, AMG GT Roadster, and AMG GT S vehicles equipped with AMG Performance Seats because the passenger occupant classification system can malfunction. That failure can deactivate or activate the passenger frontal air bag incorrectly in a crash, which increases injury risk; Mercedes-Benz dealers will repair the system free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger occupant classification system in the 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C Roadster, AMG GT, AMG GT Roadster, and AMG GT S is the sensor system in the front passenger seat that decides how the passenger frontal air bag should respond. It reads seat occupancy and works with the PASSENGER-AIRBAG ON/OFF lamp so the vehicle knows whether the air bag is active or inactive for that seat.
On affected vehicles with AMG Performance Seats, the seat cushion shape and the interaction between the seat cover and the seat occupancy detection system can interfere with that reading. Mercedes-Benz also identified incorrect coding in the seat occupancy detection software. When either condition is present, the system does not classify the passenger seat as specified. That can leave the passenger frontal air bag incorrectly deactivated or incorrectly activated in a crash.
Owners have a visible warning sign. The PASSENGER-AIRBAG ON/OFF lamp shows whether the passenger air bag is active or inactive, and a reclassification while driving triggers an instrument cluster message about the air bag status change.
Who's affected?
Spans four AMG GT variants across 2017-2018, all tied to the air bag occupant classification sensor.
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C Roadster | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT | air bag system |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Roadster | air bag system |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT S | air bag system |
| Units affected | 8 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA 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 car is included.
What's the safety risk?
Incorrect passenger air bag activation or deactivation in a crash increases injury risk because the air bag can deploy when it should not, or fail to deploy when it should. Watch the PASSENGER-AIRBAG ON/OFF lamp and any instrument cluster air bag status message. Schedule the recall repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C Roadster, AMG GT, AMG GT Roadster, or AMG GT S is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the free OCS software update and passenger seat cushion replacement if needed.
- Bring the recall notice if Mercedes-Benz mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V818 when you call.
- Limit front-passenger use until the repair is complete because the passenger frontal air bag can deploy incorrectly in a crash.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician updates the passenger occupant classification system software. If the seat cushion is part of the fault, the technician replaces the passenger seat cushion as well. The recall repair is free now, with parts and labor covered. Mercedes-Benz's standard reimbursement plan covers documented out-of-pocket costs for the same repair before recall service. Bring repair invoices or payment records to the service desk and ask how to submit them under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 18, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 5, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 26, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V818?
Recall 17V818 covers 8 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C Roadster, AMG GT, AMG GT Roadster, and AMG GT S vehicles with AMG Performance Seats. The passenger occupant classification system can misread the seat and cause the passenger frontal air bag to deploy or stay off incorrectly in a crash. Mercedes-Benz dealers update the OCS software for free.
What should I do if my 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C Roadster, AMG GT, AMG GT Roadster, or AMG GT S is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Mercedes-Benz is included in recall 17V818. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the OCS software update. The dealer will replace the passenger seat cushion if needed. Reference recall number 17V818 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Mercedes-Benz dealers will update the OCS software free of charge. If the passenger seat cushion needs replacement as part of this recall, that work is covered too.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is incorrect passenger air bag behavior in a crash. If the occupant classification system reads the passenger seat incorrectly, the passenger frontal air bag can deploy when it should stay off, or stay off when it should deploy, increasing injury risk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V818000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-877-496-3691 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V818 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V818000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly 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 →