How common are airbag complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?

Airbags make up 132 of the 167 total complaints filed for the 2012 GLK350, or 79% of all complaints for that model year, the highest share of any GLK350 model year listed.

Is there an airbag recall for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?

Yes. NHTSA lists three related airbag recalls, including campaign 16V081000 (Takata inflators, reported 2016-02-11) and campaign 17V017000 (passenger air bag module, reported 2017-01-10).

At what mileage do airbag problems tend to show up on the 2012 GLK350?

NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 47,000 miles at the time of the reported airbag failure.

Have airbag problems caused crashes or injuries on the 2012 GLK350?

NHTSA data tied to this airbag complaint area lists 2 crashes and 1 injury, with no fires reported.

Why do owners say their airbag recall wasn't fixed?

Several complaints in the sample state that replacement parts for the Takata airbag recall (16V081000) were unavailable, leaving vehicles unrepaired for extended periods.

2012 Mercedes-Benz Glk350 Airbags Problems

Airbags account for 132 of 167 complaints (79%) on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350, the highest share among model years shown. NHTSA lists three related airbag recalls, including the Takata inflator campaign 16V081000, and owners report a median mileage of 47,000 at failure.

Airbags complaints: 132; 79% of 167
Crashes reported: 2
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 1
Median mileage: 47,000 mi
Related recalls: 3

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

Owners report only headrest-mounted airbags deploying in a crash instead of the expected frontal airbags, with injuries resulting.
Some describe a headrest airbag deploying unexpectedly while the vehicle was parked, striking the driver's head.
Frontal airbags including the steering wheel and driver knee airbag deployed with metal components causing injury during a collision.
Multiple owners describe long delays getting Takata recall parts (campaign 16V081000), with dealers reporting parts unavailable for extended periods.
Several complaints note the airbag warning light illuminated while owners waited for recall repair parts to become available.

When 2012 Mercedes-Benz Glk350 airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 12, 2016, latest Jan 18, 2026.

132 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2016 to Jan 2026; peak Oct 2017 (16).

Airbags recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Glk350

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 17V017000Jan 10, 2017Airbags104,119 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012 C300 4Matic, C250, C250 Coupe, C350, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK350, SLS AMG Cabrio, and SLS AMG Coupe vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, unless included in "Zone A" above MBUSA is recalling certain 2009 C300 4Matic, C300, C350 and C63 AMG vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above MBUSA is recalling certain 2008 C300 4Matic, C300, and C350 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification in March 2017. Second notices started going out in October 2018 and continue to be mailed as parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691
NHTSA 16V081000Feb 11, 2016Airbags711,159 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63 AMG, 2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic and R350 BlueTec 4Matic, 2009-2012 GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and R350 4Matic, 2007-2008 SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG, 2011-2014 SLS AMG Coupe, 2012 SLS AMG Cabriolet, 2013-2014 SLS AMG GT and SLS AMG GT Cabriolet, 2005 C230 Kompressor and C320, 2006-2007 C230, 2006-2011 C350, 2008-2011 C300 and C300 4Matic, 2010-2012 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic and 2007-2008 Chrysler Crossfire vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-Benz owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 and Chrysler owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Airbags complaints by Glk350 model year

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

20060 (0%)
20071 (20%)
20080 (0%)
2010149 (62%)
201192 (69%)
2012132 (79%)
2013100 (73%)
201462 (60%)
201584 (74%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are airbag complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?: Airbags make up 132 of the 167 total complaints filed for the 2012 GLK350, or 79% of all complaints for that model year, the highest share of any GLK350 model year listed.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?: Yes. NHTSA lists three related airbag recalls, including campaign 16V081000 (Takata inflators, reported 2016-02-11) and campaign 17V017000 (passenger air bag module, reported 2017-01-10).
At what mileage do airbag problems tend to show up on the 2012 GLK350?: NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 47,000 miles at the time of the reported airbag failure.
Have airbag problems caused crashes or injuries on the 2012 GLK350?: NHTSA data tied to this airbag complaint area lists 2 crashes and 1 injury, with no fires reported.
Why do owners say their airbag recall wasn't fixed?: Several complaints in the sample state that replacement parts for the Takata airbag recall (16V081000) were unavailable, leaving vehicles unrepaired for extended periods.