2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500 Passenger Air Bag Recall (21V789)

Recall 21V789 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500 in recall 21V789?

The air bag control unit software may deactivate the occupant recognition control unit, resulting in a deactivated front passenger air bag.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S500, S580, and Maybach S580 vehicles. The air bag control unit software may deactivate the occupant recognition control unit, resulting in a deactivated front passenger air bag.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 S 500 with recall 21V789?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the front passenger.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V789?

Recall 21V789 covers 1,311 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500; 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580.

NHTSA lists 1,311 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the S 500 passenger air bag recall?

Yes. Dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge.

Dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2021. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021100010. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

When was recall 21V789 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V789 to NHTSA on October 11, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 1, 2021.

This recall was filed 60 months ago. If your S 500 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my S 500 is part of recall 21V789?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V789 is open on your S 500, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 S 500 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should S 500 owners do about recall 21V789?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V789000 applies to your S 500.
2. Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any front passenger symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are S 500 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 21V789 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 34 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580: 33 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

Can recall 21V789 make my S 500 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V789