NHTSA campaign 18V838000 · Manufacturer campaign 2018120009
Mercedes Benz Recall 18V-838: Incorrect Display of Passenger Air Bag Status
NHTSA recall 18V838000 (Manufacturer campaign 2018120009) was reported by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. on November 27, 2018, with 104,663 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Mercedes Benz AMG GLC43, Mercedes Benz AMG GLC63, Mercedes Benz AMG GLC63 S and more for model years 2018–2019. Owners were notified on January 3, 2019, 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 18V838000 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
- 18V838000 (also written 18V-838 or 18V838)
- Filed by
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
- Manufacturer campaign number
- 2018120009
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 104,663 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 92.98% (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 18V838000. 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 C43
- 2018 · Vehicles built August 1, 2017 – October 11, 2018 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz AMG C63
- 2018 · Vehicles built August 1, 2017 – October 11, 2018 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz AMG C63 S
- 2018 · Vehicles built August 1, 2017 – October 11, 2018 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz AMG GLC43
Mercedes Benz AMG GLC63
Mercedes Benz AMG GLC63 S
Mercedes Benz C 300
- 2018 · Vehicles built August 1, 2017 – October 11, 2018 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz C 300 4Matic
- 2018 · Vehicles built August 1, 2017 – October 11, 2018 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz C 350 E
- 2018 · Vehicles built August 1, 2017 – October 11, 2018 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz GLC 300
Mercedes Benz GLC 350 E
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 18V838000.
Defect description
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 C300 Cabriolet, C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C300, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 4Matic, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C43 AMG Coupe, C63 S AMG Cabriolet, C350e Plug-In Hybrid, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Coupe, C63 S AMG Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 S AMG, 2018-2019 GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC300, GLC63 AMG Coupe, GLC300 4Matic, GLC350e Plug-In Hybrid, GLC43 AMG Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC63 S AMG Coupe, and GLC63 AMG vehicles equipped with Audio 20 head units and automatic child seat recognition. The status of the passenger side air bag may not display correctly.
Safety consequence
If the passenger air bag is incorrectly displayed as 'ON' when it is not, a front seat passenger may be unaware that the air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the audio head unit software, free of charge. The recall began January 3, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018120009.
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 18V838000
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.