How common are airbag complaints on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300?

NHTSA lists 99 airbag complaints for this model year, which is 38% of the 259 total complaints filed for the 2013 C300.

Is there an airbag recall for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300?

Yes. NHTSA lists three related recalls: 19V010000 and 18V043000 for passenger frontal airbag module replacement, and 17V627000 for steering component grounding.

Do airbag problems in the 2013 C300 involve crashes or injuries?

NHTSA data shows 5 crashes and 5 injuries linked to airbag complaints for this model year, with no fires reported.

At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2013 C300 is 68,031 miles, according to NHTSA data.

Is the 2013 C300 worse for airbag complaints than other years?

The 38% share for 2013 is lower than 2010 (45%), 2011 (52%), 2012 (43%), and 2014 (55%), but higher than most years from 2015 onward.

2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 99 airbag complaints for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300, 38% of its 259 total complaints, tied to 5 crashes and 5 injuries. Three related recalls cover passenger airbag module replacement and steering-component grounding, so the risk is documented and remedied under recall.

Airbags complaints: 99; 38% of 259
Crashes reported: 5
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 5
Median mileage: 68,031 mi
Related recalls: 3

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

Airbags fail to deploy during moderate-speed and rear-end crashes, leaving occupants with injuries requiring medical attention.
The dashboard shows a 'passenger airbag disabled' or 'now enabled' message that toggles randomly regardless of whether an adult is seated in the passenger seat.
Driver-side airbags deploy unexpectedly during normal low-speed driving with no collision involved.
Owners report being unable to get the passenger frontal airbag module replaced under recall 19V010000 due to parts shortages, leaving airbags disabled in the meantime.
Owners cite the Takata airbag inflator recall as an open, unresolved issue affecting resale and trade-in value.

When 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 23, 2013, latest Oct 30, 2025.

99 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2013 to Oct 2025; peak Mar 2018 (11).

Airbags recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300

NHTSA 19V010000Jan 9, 2019Airbags288,779 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA 18V043000Jan 10, 2018Airbags132,167 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013 C250, C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic, GLK350, SLS Coupe, SLS AMG GT Coupe, and SLS Roadster vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2010 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, E550 Coupe, GLK350, and GLK350 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2009 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
NHTSA 17V627000Oct 6, 2017Airbags495,290 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.
Risk: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Airbags complaints by C300 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

2010202 (45%)
2011250 (52%)
2012114 (43%)
201399 (38%)
201452 (55%)
201512 (3%)
20166 (2%)
201715 (7%)
20184 (4%)
20191 (1%)
20202 (6%)
20211 (7%)
20220 (0%)
20230 (0%)
20242 (18%)
20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are airbag complaints on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300?: NHTSA lists 99 airbag complaints for this model year, which is 38% of the 259 total complaints filed for the 2013 C300.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300?: Yes. NHTSA lists three related recalls: 19V010000 and 18V043000 for passenger frontal airbag module replacement, and 17V627000 for steering component grounding.
Do airbag problems in the 2013 C300 involve crashes or injuries?: NHTSA data shows 5 crashes and 5 injuries linked to airbag complaints for this model year, with no fires reported.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2013 C300 is 68,031 miles, according to NHTSA data.
Is the 2013 C300 worse for airbag complaints than other years?: The 38% share for 2013 is lower than 2010 (45%), 2011 (52%), 2012 (43%), and 2014 (55%), but higher than most years from 2015 onward.