2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 Side Air Bag Recall (21V860)

Recall 21V860 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 in recall 21V860?

The driver-side window air bag may not have been mounted correctly to the lower area of the A-pillar.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 GLB 250 and AMG GLB 35 vehicles. The driver-side window air bag may not have been mounted correctly to the lower area of the A-pillar. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Is it safe to drive a 2021 GLB 250 with recall 21V860?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: The driver-side window air bag may not function properly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: The driver-side window air bag may not function properly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your GLB 250 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the side and window, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V860?

Recall 21V860 covers 46 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB35; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250.

NHTSA lists 46 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the GLB 250 side air bag recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect the mounting of the driver-side window air bag and repair it as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect the mounting of the driver-side window air bag and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Manufacturer recall number: 2021110014.

When was recall 21V860 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V860 to NHTSA on November 5, 2021.

This recall was filed 59 months ago. If your GLB 250 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my GLB 250 is part of recall 21V860?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V860 is open on your GLB 250, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V860000 is open on your GLB 250, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number 2021110014. You can also ask any Mercedes-Benz dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should GLB 250 owners do about recall 21V860?

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 21V860000 applies to your GLB 250.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the side and window happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are GLB 250 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 21V860 was reported (1) 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 1 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 GLB 250: 29 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB35: 5 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

Entire electrical system went out while driving causing check engine light to come on after the failure of system; there was no dashboard working at all when the system went out; without the dashboard out it was not certain if the vehicle was safe to drive anymore; the dealer has not been able to reproduce…

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11551607, filed October 24, 2023

Can recall 21V860 make my GLB 250 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.

Owners often ask whether this side and window recall means their GLB 250 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

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 21V860