YearToAvoid

2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 Airbags Problems

Airbags account for 22 of 34 complaints (65%) filed on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400, mostly tied to delayed Takata airbag recall repairs. NHTSA lists three related airbag recalls (campaigns 21V638000, 19V010000, and 17V627000). One crash was reported; no fires or injuries.

Airbags complaints
22
65% of 34
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
33,500 mi
Related recalls
3

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners report receiving Takata airbag recall notices (campaigns 17V627000 and 19V010000) but being told by dealers that replacement parts were not yet available.
  • Several owners state the recall repair exceeded a reasonable amount of time to complete, with dealers unable to confirm when parts would arrive.
  • One owner reports being told by a dealer that the E400 did not share the same airbag issue as another recalled Mercedes-Benz model, then later receiving a recall notice for their own vehicle.
  • One owner reports not being notified directly about the recall and only learning about it independently.
  • None of the sample complaints in this cluster describe an actual airbag deployment failure or malfunction; concerns center on recall notification and parts availability.

When 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 28, 2017, latest Apr 14, 2021.

2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 airbags complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2017Feb 2019Sep 2019Mar 2020Oct 2020Mar 2021
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2017 to Apr 2021; peak Mar 2018 (3).

Airbags recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400

  1. NHTSA 21V638000Aug 13, 2021Airbags205 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.

    Risk: An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

  2. 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.

  3. 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 E400 model year

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

  1. 20158 (53%)
  2. 201622 (65%)
  3. 201716 (80%)
  4. 20181 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

Are airbags a common complaint for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400?
Yes. Airbags make up 22 of the 34 total complaints filed for the 2016 E400, or 65% of all complaints for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400?
Yes, NHTSA lists three related airbag recalls: campaign 21V638000 (2021-08-13) for an incorrect front passenger air bag, campaign 19V010000 (2019-01-09) for the passenger frontal air bag module, and campaign 17V627000 (2017-10-06) for steering component grounding tied to airbag operation.
Did any 2016 E400 airbag complaints involve a crash or injury?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires or injuries among the 22 airbag-related complaints for this model year.
At what mileage do airbag issues appear on the 2016 E400?
The median mileage at failure across airbag complaints for this model year is 33,500 miles.
Compared to other years, does the 2016 E400 have more airbag complaints?
The 2016 E400 shows 22 airbag complaints (65% share), higher in count than 2015 (8 complaints, 53% share) and 2018 (1 complaint, 4% share), though 2017 had a higher share at 80% with 16 complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.