NHTSA campaign 13V542000
Mercedes Benz Recall 13V-542: Occupant Classification System (OCS)/Side Air Bag
NHTSA recall 13V542000 was reported by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. on November 1, 2013, with 130 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Mercedes Benz SL63, Mercedes Benz SL65 and Mercedes Benz SL 550 for the 2013 model year. Owners were notified on December 20, 2013, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 13V542000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Mercedes Benz VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 13V542000 (also written 13V-542 or 13V542)
- Filed by
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 130 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Air Bags — Side/Window
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 90.77% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 13V542000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Mercedes Benz
Mercedes Benz SL63
- 2013 · Vehicles built January 13, 2013 – April 30, 2013 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz SL65
- 2013 · Vehicles built January 13, 2013 – April 30, 2013 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz SL 550
- 2013 · Vehicles built January 13, 2013 – April 30, 2013 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 13V542000.
Defect description
Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2013 SL63, SL550, and SL65 vehicles manufactured January 16, 2013, through April 30, 2013. The affected vehicles are equipped with an occupant classification system (OCS) that may not detect a very light person sitting in the front passenger seat.
Safety consequence
If the OCS does not detect a very light person sitting in the seat, the passenger side air bag would be turned off. In the event of a crash necessitating side air bag deployment, the passenger would be at an increased risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side seat cushion including the OCS. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes at 1-201-573-0600.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 13V542000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.