Mercedes Benz Recalls Cars over Airbag Lights
» Posted November 12, 2018 • Resources | Share This Post
Mercedes-Benz owners may have a problem: some passenger airbag lights show that the safety device is on when it actually hasn’t been activated.
The car maker is recalling more than 100,000 vehicles as a result of the snafu, which could give drivers and vehicle occupants a false sense of safety. Mercedes-Benz will start sending notices to affected car owners beginning Jan. 2, 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The company says it began investigating a possible problem with the airbag lights in February 2018. It concluded that a software problem caused car seats to send incorrect signals about whether passenger side airbags are engaged.
“In such a case, the user might not be able to react properly to a potential false passenger classification which could increase the risk of injury for the passenger in case of a crash,” the company said in a report to NHTSA.
The recall covers a range of vehicles, including the 2018 C300, C350e, C43, C63 and the 2018-2019 GLC300, GLC350e, GLC43 and GLC63. Mercedes-Benz will update the impacted software free of charge for affected vehicle owners.
The announcement comes a little more than a year after Mercedes-Benz was forced to recall some 400,000 cars in Europe because faulty airbags were deploying at random.
How the California Lemon Law Protects Car Owners
Unfortunately, problems with airbags and related devices are all too common and can cause tragic results. In some cases, a person who knows there’s something wrong with his or her car may have a hard time getting the manufacturer to take responsibility and fix it. That’s where the California lemon law comes in.
The law requires car makers to repair various defects and other problems with the vehicle while it’s under warranty. If those efforts don’t work, the manufacturer is required to compensate the owner for the purchase price and/or down payment and financing charges, as well as other expenses like car rentals, towing and repair costs. The manufacturer may also offer to replace the car instead.
The law applies to both new and used cars, if repair attempts happen during the vehicle’s warranty period.
Talk With an Experienced California Lemon Law Attorney
If you’re a California car owner with a faulty airbag or related problem, it’s important that you consult an experienced lawyer to consider your rights and options. The California Lemon Law attorneys at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. We understand the significant stress that can come with haggling with car dealers and manufacturers. Our lawyers work aggressively to resolve these cases for the people that we represent.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.
