Mercedes-Benz E550 Recalls

The Mercedes-Benz E550 has 12 recalls spanning 2010 through 2017, with the most serious being a Takata airbag inflator defect affecting vehicles from 2010 through 2017 where the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.

The Takata inflator issue runs across nearly the entire production span of this model and appears in multiple filings covering different model years. The 2010-2011 model years also have a separate driver-side inflator that can rupture in a crash, sending fragments toward the driver. A different airbag concern affects 2012-2017 vehicles, where the driver airbag can deploy without a crash, raising the risk of an unexpected deployment while driving. On 2017 models, the passenger-side frontal airbag or pelvis airbag inflator initiator can fail to fire in a crash, leaving the occupant without that protection. A 2012 coupe-specific issue involves the right-side curtain airbag, where improper stitching causes it to deflate faster than intended in a side impact, reducing head protection.

On the fire side, 2013-2014 models have a hood rubber seal that can fall into the engine compartment and contact exhaust components, creating a fire risk. The 2017 model year has a separate fire concern where insufficient clearance between the left catalytic converter and a composite underbody panel can cause the panel to melt.

The 2013-2016 model years have a software fault in the emergency call system where the system can transmit an incorrect date, time, and vehicle location to emergency responders after a crash. The 2017 model year has a related issue where the emergency call system can fail outright and send responders to the wrong location.