Takata Air Bag Equipped
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Takata Air Bag Equipped
Just got this letter from MBUSA - 2005-2014
"....Unfortunately, unlike other parts used in manufacturing, redesign of an airbag model is a tie-intensive effort given the time needed for sourcing, design, testing, certifying and manufacturing requirements. As a result, it will take us time to go through the....
"as soon as a suitable replacement is tested and available...."
Wonder if I'll still have the car (or be alive) when I get the second letter notifying me to bring the car in to have the work done.
"Whitney Houston, we have a problem."
"....Unfortunately, unlike other parts used in manufacturing, redesign of an airbag model is a tie-intensive effort given the time needed for sourcing, design, testing, certifying and manufacturing requirements. As a result, it will take us time to go through the....
"as soon as a suitable replacement is tested and available...."
Wonder if I'll still have the car (or be alive) when I get the second letter notifying me to bring the car in to have the work done.
"Whitney Houston, we have a problem."
#3
I wouldn't be too concerned unless you have one of the older models and live in a year-round high humidity area. I believe the issue is tied to moisture sensitivity of the gas generant. The defect allows it to absorb moisture over time which effects performance.
#4
Super Member
I would be and am concerned. Our 2012 is now on Hawaii Island 1/2 mile from the ocean.
We previously were waterfront in Texas.
Why did they wait to notify owners?
We previously were waterfront in Texas.
Why did they wait to notify owners?
#5
Senior Member
wouldn't be too concerned? um, okay. i just checked and mine is effected and the thought of metal fragments exploding into my face is a little traumatizing no matter what the odds. folks have died because of this. i think they oughta take in vehicles and issue loaners for those waiting. this is unacceptable IMO. but maybe i'm being "too concerned"
is there a way to expedite this or otherwise get a loaner while waiting? i havent even gotten my letter, found out about my vehicle being affect through this website and the recall was allegedly in feb? unbelievable and unacceptable IMO.
is there a way to expedite this or otherwise get a loaner while waiting? i havent even gotten my letter, found out about my vehicle being affect through this website and the recall was allegedly in feb? unbelievable and unacceptable IMO.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My neighbor has a Honda Ridgeline with a defective air bag and the local dealer had given him a Honda Pilot loaner until the Ridgeline's new (improved) airbag shows up. They can't tell him when that will be.
He's asked them to keep the Ridgeline at the dealer ship and they refused.
He's asked them to keep the Ridgeline at the dealer ship and they refused.
#7
Senior Member
seems like honda is offering them but mercedes isnt, under the guise that there hasnt been an incident in a mercedes before. well, that's really neither here nor there IMO. there could always be a first and the product is defective necessetating the recall and unless they can assure that you wont be the first, its extremely concerning to think of having to drive the car for an unknown period of time hoping you arent the first victim of a defective device sitting 1 foot away from your face!
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#8
Senior Member
does anyone here work at a dealership and know what can be done about this? Waiting to hear back from my dealer but my selling dealer said they sympathize with our concerns but dont think mercedes will compensate them for handing out a loaner for this.
#9
Super Member
From Car and Driver:
Update 5/20: Mercedes-Benz has expanded its Takata recall. The company will also replace passenger-side inflators on 196,975 cars. The affected models are:
C-class
2012–2014 C-class
E-class
2012–2017 E-class coupe, 2012–2017 E-class cabriolet
GLK-class
2013–2015 GLK-class
SLS AMG
2015 SLS AMG, 2015 SLS AMG cabriolet
Update 5/20: Mercedes-Benz has expanded its Takata recall. The company will also replace passenger-side inflators on 196,975 cars. The affected models are:
C-class
2012–2014 C-class
E-class
2012–2017 E-class coupe, 2012–2017 E-class cabriolet
GLK-class
2013–2015 GLK-class
SLS AMG
2015 SLS AMG, 2015 SLS AMG cabriolet
The following users liked this post:
XXBogey (06-29-2016)
#10
Super Member
From Car and Driver:
Update 5/20: Mercedes-Benz has expanded its Takata recall. The company will also replace passenger-side inflators on 196,975 cars. The affected models are:
C-class
2012–2014 C-class
E-class
2012–2017 E-class coupe, 2012–2017 E-class cabriolet
GLK-class
2013–2015 GLK-class
SLS AMG
2015 SLS AMG, 2015 SLS AMG cabriolet
Update 5/20: Mercedes-Benz has expanded its Takata recall. The company will also replace passenger-side inflators on 196,975 cars. The affected models are:
C-class
2012–2014 C-class
E-class
2012–2017 E-class coupe, 2012–2017 E-class cabriolet
GLK-class
2013–2015 GLK-class
SLS AMG
2015 SLS AMG, 2015 SLS AMG cabriolet
#11
Sorry if this has been covered already but is there no contingency plan for these airbags yet? I thought I was in the clear but now see it does affect my 2014 E cabrio. Can't believe we have to go through this.
#12
Here's what my VIN search pulled up:
Still no note for the Takata airbag recall.
#13
Senior Member
I can't figure this out. Even though this story is out there, MB has not added it to the recall list here: https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/recall
Here's what my VIN search pulled up:
Still no note for the Takata airbag recall.
Here's what my VIN search pulled up:
Still no note for the Takata airbag recall.
Last edited by nauticalx; 06-21-2016 at 07:53 PM.
#14
Super Member
I get the same empty status on the recall web site as you do, even though I obviously fall into the effected vehicles.
Given the vagueness of the letter that PCA7GGR received, regarding both a time frame for resolution and lack of any actual replacement parts, I fully expect that this will probably be an open issue a year from now. The whole auto industry seems to be scrambling to get replacement air bags from an alternative source at this point. So the demand numbers are huge and the number of companies in the air bag business are very small.
MB is still building new E coupes and cabs, at least according to the list provided by Car and Driver, with the defective Takata air bags installed. So obviously MB doesn't have a near-term solution.
I can understand some car companies offering some loaners, on a short-term basis (few days, weeks or occasionally longer), to owners who are concerned about potential vehicle safety. However, I would expect that in these cases the car company has replacement air bags for the impacted vehicles coming in shortly to make the repairs. Otherwise, you're talking about loaning out hundreds of thousands of cars for sevral months at a time. Are other car companies, like Honda, really just supplying loaner cars to virtually every one of their customers who has these defective Takata air bags on demand for several months at a time until new air bag suppliers can be sourced or have they already identified, tested and secured a new source of air bags for their vehicles?
Given the vagueness of the letter that PCA7GGR received, regarding both a time frame for resolution and lack of any actual replacement parts, I fully expect that this will probably be an open issue a year from now. The whole auto industry seems to be scrambling to get replacement air bags from an alternative source at this point. So the demand numbers are huge and the number of companies in the air bag business are very small.
MB is still building new E coupes and cabs, at least according to the list provided by Car and Driver, with the defective Takata air bags installed. So obviously MB doesn't have a near-term solution.
I can understand some car companies offering some loaners, on a short-term basis (few days, weeks or occasionally longer), to owners who are concerned about potential vehicle safety. However, I would expect that in these cases the car company has replacement air bags for the impacted vehicles coming in shortly to make the repairs. Otherwise, you're talking about loaning out hundreds of thousands of cars for sevral months at a time. Are other car companies, like Honda, really just supplying loaner cars to virtually every one of their customers who has these defective Takata air bags on demand for several months at a time until new air bag suppliers can be sourced or have they already identified, tested and secured a new source of air bags for their vehicles?
#17
Super Member
I read a report yesterday that Jeep is also still installing these Takata air bags into some of their vehicles and plan to do so for a number of years to come. They also have no alternative supplier to replace the Takata air bags with just a number of other auto manufacturers. The U.S. government is fully aware of it. Yet the official position is it's all right to continue to install these Takata air bags into new vehicles since there is no widely available alternative.
#18
Senior Member
the level of fanboy-ism on mercedes knows no limits. i used to be a big fan but i wont suck up and defend a company that doesn't feel the need to step up to the plate and do the right thing when it could cost life or limb.
#19
Super Member
I understand you think MB should just provide free loaners to everyone for the year or more that it will take to source a new air bag supplier (the time frame several auto manufacturers are telling government agencies), test and certify the new air bags, etc., but somehow I doubt MB or any of the other car companies impacted by this Takata mess have a few hundred thousand cars each just laying around to provide as loaners on demand. You seem to feel Honda does, so all the more reason to make the switch. Again, it's about feeling safe behind the wheel.
#20
From Car and Driver:
Update 5/20: Mercedes-Benz has expanded its Takata recall. The company will also replace passenger-side inflators on 196,975 cars. The affected models are:
C-class
2012–2014 C-class
E-class
2012–2017 E-class coupe, 2012–2017 E-class cabriolet
GLK-class
2013–2015 GLK-class
SLS AMG
2015 SLS AMG, 2015 SLS AMG cabriolet
Update 5/20: Mercedes-Benz has expanded its Takata recall. The company will also replace passenger-side inflators on 196,975 cars. The affected models are:
C-class
2012–2014 C-class
E-class
2012–2017 E-class coupe, 2012–2017 E-class cabriolet
GLK-class
2013–2015 GLK-class
SLS AMG
2015 SLS AMG, 2015 SLS AMG cabriolet
BUT - the webpage also states "NOTE: This list does not yet include vehicles in the May 4 announced Takata recall expansion."
Anybody know of any additional info on this yet?
#21
Senior Member
It's really a mess. All we really know is that we have to drive these potential death traps around that are supposedly "the best or nothing" because the good cash we doled out for them isn't enough for mercedes to do the right thing and place affected owners into substitute vehicles like some other (much) cheaper brands. They can't guarantee you wont be the first one to lose your face in a faulty deployment. It's sickening.
#23
Super Member
Try not to crash it?
I guess you could ask MB to loan you another Takata equipped car to blow up in your face if you really want it. Seriously, have you seen the list of cars affected by this?
I guess you could ask MB to loan you another Takata equipped car to blow up in your face if you really want it. Seriously, have you seen the list of cars affected by this?