Aussies Beware: The Airbag In Your New Mercedes Could Detach While Driving

Mercedes-Benz is conducting a safety recall in Australia, with the country’s Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) knowledge over an issue that affects several new vehicles.

According to the recall notice, certain Mercedes-Benz A-Class, CLA and GLC have a problem with the airbags, as they may have not been secured accordingly.

“The four lock nuts for fastening the airbag may have been installed incorrectly”, the authority explains in the description of the defect. “The airbag may detach from the base plate and enter into the vehicle interior at high speed, increasing the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of an accident”.

Also Read: New Mercedes CLA vs Old CLA vs New A-Class Sedan: Are They All That Different?

Affected by this recall are 268 vehicles from the 2019 model year, which were sold by authorized dealers between April 1 and September 30, 2019. Should you be in the possession of one of these cars, the ACCC recommends contacting the nearest Mercedes-Benz retailer to arrange an inspection, subsequent to which the necessary repairs, where required, will be carried out free of charge.

The safety campaign seems to be limited to the Australian market, as the U.S.’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hasn’t, at the time of writing, posted a related recall. The last time the GLC was recalled Stateside was one year ago, over the rear seatbelt that couldn’t be latched. The A-Class hatch, which is not on sale in the States, was recalled last in 2012 over an airbag issue and the CLA at the beginning of the year, over a potentially dangerous airbag inflator that could explode.