19 complaints reported

2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
19
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Injuries
5

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2023 Injury

Had a minor accident no airbags deployed sitting in car I don’t know a month later something around that sitting in car key not in the ignition sitting in the driver seat when all of a sudden a big bang happened and blue out both side airbag by the sunroof sunroof. Was very loud and knocked my head sideways. Nothing had touch the car car hadn’t been hit car was sitting in the driveway with no ignition running no key in the ignition.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Feb 2023
Jul 2019

TAKATA RECALL: THE SRS LIGHT IN MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. IT JUST HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WITHOUT ANY REASON. MY CONCERN IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT, WOULD THE AIR BAGS STILL WORK. I'M WONDERING IF THIS ISSUE COMES FROM THE MANUFACTURE BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF SOME OF THE BENZ FROM THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME ISSUE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Aug 2018
Apr 2019

CAR WAS ELEVATED ON A 2 POST CAR LIFT AND WE WERE WORKING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY. 2 SHARP BLOWS WERE STRUCK ON A BOLT HEAD ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WITH A HAMMER IN AN EFFORT TO LOOSEN THE BOLT. AFTER THE SECOND BLOW, THE DRIVERS SIDE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Apr 2019
Apr 2019

THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IS ILLUMINATED. COULD THIS BE A MANUFRACTURING DEFECT?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Apr 2019
Jan 2019 Crash Fire

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE SWITCHED LANES INTO THE PATH OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A CURB TO AVOID THE OTHER VEHICLE. SOME OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SMOKE APPEARED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Feb 2019
Aug 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING CHIME WAS AUDIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING CHIME CONTINUED UNTIL THE SEAT BELT WAS SECURED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. MERCEDES-BENZ OF FLORENCE (2199 DAVID H MCLEOD BLVD, FLORENCE, SC 29501, (843) 410-5188) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT DECLINED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
Jul 2017 Crash

AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT/INFLATION IMPACT INJURES PASSENGER, CAUSING LESION AND BURN. AT A SCHOOL OP SIGN INTERSECTION, MY VEHICAL WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE (T-BONE), BETWEEN THE FENDER AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, ALL THE SIDE AIRBAGS ON THE LEFT WAS DEPLOYED, THE IMPACT OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SEVERELY INJURED MY 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jul 2017
Mar 2017 Crash Injury

THE DRIVER OF THE MERCEDES WAS TRAVELING EAST ON INTERSTATE 80 IN A RURAL AREA OF CALIFORNIA. THE DRIVER CLAIMS TO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE TRAVERSING A LEFT CURVE IN THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE LAUNCHED OFF A SLIGHT DOWNHILL EMBANKMENT SOUTH OF THE ROADWAY AND THE VEHICLE TRAVERSED AN UNDULATED VEGETATIVE AREA PRIOR TO STRIKING A LARGE DIAMETER TREE WITH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS RIGHT OF THE CENTER OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE WEARING THEIR TYPE-2 SAFETY BELTS. AFTER STRIKING THE TREE, THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE AND CAME TO REST ON ITS ROOF. THE DRIVER FRONT AND SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS DID THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAG. THE FRONT PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION. THE INVESTIGATING CHP OFFICER OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND REQUESTED AN EVALUATION OF THE SYSTEM DUE TO A PERCEIVED POTENTIAL SRS SYSTEM FAILURE. CHP MULTIDISCIPLINARY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION TEAM (MAIT) EVALUATED THE SYSTEM (SEE INCLUDED MAIT INVESTIGATION). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jun 2016
Jan 2013

SRS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jul 2013
Mar 2011 Crash Injury

I WAS DRIVING A 2005 E320 MERCEDES AND HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE PASSES THE STOP SIGN AND WE HAD A CAR ACCIDENT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLORED AND I WAS INJURED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jun 2011
Jul 2010

SRS MALFUNCTION LIGHT GOES ON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jul 2010
Jul 2010

"AIRBAG FAILURE" THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON MY 2005 MERCEDES E320 CDI. I PAID THE DEALER $100+ TO PULL THE CODES AND IT WAS THE AIRBAG CONNECTOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SINCE I WORK ON THE CAR MYSELF AND IT WAS JUST OUT OF OUT OF WARRANTY (30,000 MILES BUT 4 YEARS AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS). I BOUGHT ANOTHER CONNECTOR AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. I HAVE A 1992 MERCEDES AND IT HAS GOLD PINS ON THE AIRBAG CIRCUIT WHEREAS THIS 'NEW' CAR HAS GREY 'ZINC' PINS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Mar 2010
Sep 2009

SRS INDICATOR LAMP ON. THE SRS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND DASH DISPLAY REPORTS COMPLETE FAILURE OF ALL SRS SYSTEMS. ERROR CODE 9103, DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR AND WIRE, AIRBAG LINE TO STEERING COLUMN, CAUSED ENTIRE SRS SHUTDOWN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Sep 2009
Jul 2006

SRS (PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM) FAILURE. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING CAR WITH MESSAGE THE SRS HAD MALFUNCTIONED WHICH COULD CAUSE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO VERIFIED COMPLAINT. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN SIX MONTHS THAT THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED. DEALER PERFORMED THE EXACT SAME SERVICE AS THEY DID ON THE SECOND FAILURE (6/29/06). THEY REWIRED THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM PER INSTRUCTIONS FROM MERCEDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jul 2006
Jun 2006

SRS LIGHT ON - MESSAGE ON DASH THAT SRS HAS MALFUNCTIONED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON 2/20/06 AND WAS TOLD I COULD WAIT FOR CAR. AS IT TURNED OUT I DID NOT GET MY CAR BACK UNTIL 6PM ON 2/22/06. PER DEALER'S REPAIR INVOICE...CHECK CODES AND EVALUATE. CHECK ACTUAL VALUES AND CHECK DTB. PERFORM REPAIRS, REPLACE WIRING TO STEERING WHEEL CONTROL MODULE. ON 06/29/06 SRS LIGHT ON AGAIN WITH MALFUNCTION MESSAGE. TOOK TO DEALER AND ADVISED SAME PROBLEM AS ON 2/20/06. CAR IS AT DEALER AWAITING REPAIR AND HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR TODAY, 6/30/06. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Feb 2006
Dec 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. WHEN A CHILD OR A PERSON UNDER THE WEIGHT GUIDELINES SAT IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT BE ACTIVATED. THE LIGHT CAME ON/OFF RANDOMLY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF THE AIR BAG WAS FUNCTIONING WHEN NECESSARY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOUR TIMES, AND HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE DEALER PLANNED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE IN DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Aug 2005
Feb 2005 Crash Injury

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN HER 2005 MERCEDES E320 WHICH DAMAGED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM A SPECIAL EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAGS PERFORMED AS THE SHOULD BECAUSE THE COLLISION WAS A LATERAL IMPACT. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Dec 2004
Dec 2004 Crash Injury

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Dec 2004
Aug 2004

SRS (PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE) WARNING LAMP CAME ON WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE (2005 MERCEDES BENZ C230 SPORT SEDAN) WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AS DIRECTED BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS SINCE 7/26/04. ON 8/17/04 THE VEHICLE WAS STILL NOT REPAIRED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE OVER TWENTY (20) VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURE AWAITING PARTS. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL REPAIRED AND WOULD NOT LET ME TAKE THE CAR FROM THE REPAIR FACILITY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jul 2004

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has 19 Air Bags complaints on file. 6 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.