2008 Mercedes Benz C350 Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Feb 5, 2025 · 52 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2008 Mercedes Benz C350, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 70,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “numbers air bags” (19% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Numbers air bags: mentioned in 10 of 52 complaints (19%)

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 17 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles0 · 0%
10k–25k miles1 · 6%
25k–50k miles3 · 18%
50k–75k miles6 · 35%
75k–100k miles6 · 35%
100k–150k miles1 · 6%
150k+ miles0 · 0%

How serious are the reports?

Of 52 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 an injury.

Mercedes-Benz C350 air bags complaints by model year

Peak: 2008, with 52 complaints
2006: 2200622008: 522008522009: 252009252010: 102010102011: 162011162012: 272012272013: 152013152014: 8201482015: 3201532020: 120201

n = 159 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearAir Bags complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2020 C3501100%—
2015 C350350%—
2014 C350862%60,000
2013 C3501571%64,000
2012 C3502777%55,000
2011 C3501662%39,500
2010 C3501056%160,000
2009 C3502538%60,000
2008 C3505236%70,000
2006 C35029%70,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2017, with 21 complaints
2011: 1201112013: 1201312015: 3201532016: 152016152017: 212017212018: 11201811

n = 52 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (4)

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 10, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V017000 · 104,119 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleMay 26, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V363000 · 258,163 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300 Sedan, C300 4matic Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan vehicles, 2010-2011 GLK350, GLK350 4-Matic and E350 Coupe vehicles, 2011 SLS AMG, E350 Convertible, E550 Coupe and E550 Convertible 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 model year 2008 C300 Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan and C300 4-Matic Sedan 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." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. 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.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification October 2016. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleFeb 11, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V081000 · 711,159 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactiveOct 27, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V711000 · 127,504 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 C300 Sedan, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles, and 2010 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the air bag control unit may corrode and cause the control unit to malfunction.

Risk: The malfunctioning air bag control unit may cause the air bags to unexpectedly deploy increasing the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash. Alternatively, the air bag control unit malfunction may cause the air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag control unit and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. Mercedes-Benz issued an interim notification to owners on December 23, 2015. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

Nhtsa recall number: 16v081, 17v017, airbag warning light comes on, multiple request to correct open recall. Dealer states parts are not available

Received Oct 10, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11139405

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). FLETCHER JONES MOTORCARS OF FREMONT (LOCATED AT 5760 CUSHING PKWY, FREMONT, CA 94538, [redacted]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED…

Received Sep 12, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11129125

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz c350. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the supplemental restraint system (srs) malfunctioned. The contact stated that "srs malfunction service required" appeared on the instrument panel each time a passenger occupied the…

Received Sep 4, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11124418

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2008 Mercedes Benz C350s have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 52 owner complaints about air bags for the 2008 Mercedes Benz C350 (36% of the 144 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2008 Mercedes Benz C350 air bags?

Yes: 4 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do air bags problems start?

The median reported mileage is 70,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2008 Mercedes Benz C350?

The most frequent phrase is “numbers air bags”, in 10 of 52 complaints.

Other 2008 Mercedes Benz C350 problems

See all 2008 Mercedes Benz C350 problems or air bags problems across all C350 years.