Airbag inflators being replaced on thousands of vehicles
Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia/Pacific is recalling Sprinter 906 Series ES Edition models over defective driver and passenger airbag inflators.
There are 3,059 vehicles affected on the driver’s side and 2,559 with passenger’s side issues.
The models were sold between November 1, 2007 and October 31, 2016.
An older airbag inflator can be affected by high temperatures and humidity over time, causing its propellant to degrade.
“If an affected vehicle is involved in a collision triggering the airbag, the metal inflator housing may explode/rupture under too much internal pressure,” the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says.
“In the event that a defective airbag inflator ruptures, metal fragments may propel out through the airbag cushion towards the vehicle occupants causing serious injury or fatality.”
A similar issue affected other Mercedes-Benz vans earlier in 2018. Read more, here
The products are not a subset of Takata airbags called ‘alpha’, which are considered to pose the highest safety risk of all the recalled Takata airbags.
However, owners of affected vehicles are being advised to contact their local Mercedes-Benz dealership or Mercedes-Benz head office to arrange for a replacement airbag inflator – free of charge.
A list of affected VINs can be found here (driver) and here (passenger).