2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 Air Bag Fastener Recall (22V124)

Recall 22V124 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 in recall 22V124?

The air bag control unit may be improperly secured and may result in an unintentional air bag or seat belt deployment, or an improper deployment in the event of a crash.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S580 4Matic vehicles. The air bag control unit may be improperly secured and may result in an unintentional air bag or seat belt deployment, or an improper deployment in the event of a crash.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 S 580 with recall 22V124?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Unintentional or improper deployment of air bags and/or seat belts can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Unintentional or improper deployment of air bags and/or seat belts can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your S 580 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the critical fasteners, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 22V124?

Recall 22V124 covers 14 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580.

NHTSA lists 14 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 580 air bag fastener recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect and tighten the air bag control unit fastening nuts, as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect and tighten the air bag control unit fastening nuts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-637-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022030024.

When was recall 22V124 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 22V124 to NHTSA on March 4, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 15, 2022.

This recall was filed 55 months ago. If your S 580 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my S 580 is part of recall 22V124?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V124 is open on your S 580, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 22V124000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should S 580 owners do about recall 22V124?

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 22V124000 applies to your S 580.
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. Write down when symptoms involving the critical fasteners 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 S 580 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 33 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 22V124 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 33 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

Can recall 22V124 make my S 580 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)).

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.

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.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the S 580 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

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 22V124