Air bags: side/window (Mercedes Benz)
Vehicle safety improvement campaign 01I-005. NHTSA received MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.’s report on Apr 15, 2001.
- NHTSA: a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.
The short answer
NHTSA received MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.’s report on Apr 15, 2001. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 26, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
NHTSA files this as a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall.
NHTSA’s records of these campaigns say each is “not a safety recall”, but is “deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency”. What’s wrong and the fix are below, in NHTSA’s words.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT.
HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2000 SLK AND E-CLASS VEHICLES.
SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LEFT PARKED IN HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING WARMER MONTHS.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Air bags: side/window.
What should you do?
MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE AIR BAG FREE OF CHARGE. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE SIDE AIR BAG. OWNERS CAN CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372, CONCERNING THIS PROGRAM.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones does it cover?
NHTSA counts 2,038 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- Mercedes Benz SLKand 2000, before the model years listed here
- Mercedes Benz E Classand 2000, before the model years listed here
Who is running it?
- Made by MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This campaign names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 26, 2026 and checked Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 26, 2026.