Hearth Record

Air bags: side/window; air bags: frontal (Mercedes Benz)

Vehicle recall 98V-256. NHTSA received MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.’s report on Oct 14, 1998.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.’s report on Oct 14, 1998. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 24, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

THE WINDOW AIR BAG MAY NOT FULLY DEPLOY IN A SIDE-IMPACT COLLISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.

A WRONG CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Air bags: side/window.
  • NHTSA’s part: Air bags: frontal.

What should you do?

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS AND, IF THE WRONG OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED CLAMP IS FOUND, THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL BE REPLACED.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NOVEMBER 20, 1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES (1-800-367-6372). ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 4,163 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Mercedes Benz E Classand 1999, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 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 recall 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.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

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 24, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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