NHTSA campaign 16V903000 · Manufacturer campaign 2016120004
Mercedes Benz Recall 16V-903: Classification System may Deactivate Air Bag
NHTSA recall 16V903000 (Manufacturer campaign 2016120004) was reported by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. on December 15, 2016, with 47,799 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Mercedes Benz AMG GLE43, Mercedes Benz AMG GLE63, Mercedes Benz GL350 and more for model years 2016–2017. Owners were notified on January 18, 2017, 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 16V903000 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
- 16V903000 (also written 16V-903 or 16V903)
- Filed by
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
- Manufacturer campaign number
- 2016120004
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 47,799 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 88.83% (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 16V903000. 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 AMG GLE43
Mercedes Benz AMG GLE63
Mercedes Benz AMG GLS63
- 2017 · Vehicles built April 23, 2014 – May 10, 2016 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz GL350
Mercedes Benz GL550
Mercedes Benz GLE63S
- 2016 · Vehicles built April 23, 2014 – May 10, 2016 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz GLE300D
- 2016 · Vehicles built April 23, 2014 – May 10, 2016 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz GLE 350
Mercedes Benz GLE350D
- 2016 · Vehicles built April 23, 2014 – May 10, 2016 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz GLE 400
- 2016 · Vehicles built April 23, 2014 – May 10, 2016 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz GLE 450
Mercedes Benz GLE 550 E
- 2016 · Vehicles built April 23, 2014 – May 10, 2016 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 16V903000.
Defect description
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic Bluetec, GL550 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe, GLE450 4Matic, 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, and 2017 GLS63 AMG vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, to May 10, 2016. The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) calibration may be incorrect, and as a result, the system can incorrectly classify the occupant as a child seat, deactivating the front passenger air bag.
Safety consequence
If the front passenger air bag does not deploy as necessary in the event of a crash, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
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 16V903000
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.