Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode – 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 & 3500

January 8, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V004000

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V004

Manufacturer Daimler Vans USA, LLC

Components AIR BAGS

Potential Number of Units Affected 88,388

 

Summary

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

 

Remedy

DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

 

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.

 

Check for Daimler Vans Recalls

 

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TO: Mercedes-Benz Dealer Principals, General Managers, Sales Managers, Service Managers, Parts Managers	FROM: Anthony Washington, Department Manager, Regulatory Mgmt & Campaigns Vans
RE: Recall Campaign 2018110007 Replace Front Passenger-side Airbag MY14 Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters	DATE: March 12, 2019

 

IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

 

Recall information for customers:

• Recall-related information: https://www.mbvans.com/sprinter/owners-resources/recall
• Customer Assistance Center: 1-877-496-3691
• Industry-wide Takata information: www.nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight/takata-air-bags

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Campaign No. :	Campaign Desc. :	Takata Recall Notification – Passenger-side Airbag
2018110007	NCV3TAKAGA
This is to notify you of the upcoming Recall Campaign to replace the Passenger-side Airbag on approximately 24,074 MY14 Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The recall campaign will be visible on the www.safercar.gov website and may generate questions from customers. All affected VINs are flagged as “OPEN” in VMI.
Background
Issue	The passenger-side airbag is affected by this recall based on the defect decision of TK Holdings, Inc. (“Takata”). Under certain circumstances during a crash that necessitates frontal airbag deployment, the defect in the passenger-side airbag inflator housing may cause the inflator to rupture. A passenger-side inflator rupture during deployment could result in metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants, possibly causing  serious injury or death.
What We’re Doing	An authorized Freightliner or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dealer will replace the front passenger-side airbag free of charge. Please ship back the replaced airbag modules to QEC in Jacksonville for storage. The modules should be marked with VIN, mileage and the area where the vehicle was operated. JSS (successor of Takata) will organize the pickup of the airbag modules at the QEC.
Parts	Parts are available for ordering.
Vehicles Affected
Vehicle Model Year(s)	2014
Vehicle Model	Sprinter (906 Platform)
Vehicle Populations
Total Recall Population	24,074
Next Steps/Notes
Follow ALL steps of the Work Instructions, Follow suggested guidance and best practices regarding customer contact and preparing your workshop for the campaign. File warranty claims frequently and without delay to ensure immediate and steady parts return flow for testing.   Additional References Customer Assistance Center (CAC): 877-496-3691
Customer Notification Timeline	Customer letters will be mailed in early March, 2019.
AOMS/SOMS	AOMs – This recall may generate questions from your dealers. Please forward this notice to your dealers ASAP.
While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, DVUSA is determined to maintain a high level of vehicle quality and customer satisfaction.

 

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Campaign No. 2018110007, March 2019

TO:	ALL MERCEDES-BENZ CENTERS
SUBJECT:	Model 906 (Sprinter), Model Years 2014 Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz Replace Front Passenger-side Air Bag

 

This recall campaign has been initiated because according to Takata, the passenger airbag inflator housing in affected vehicles may rupture due to excessive internal pressure during normal airbag deployment events. This condition is more likely to occur if the vehicles have been exposed to high levels of absolute humidity for extended periods of time. An inflator rupture, during airbag deployment events, could result in metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant, possibly causing serious injury or death. As a precaution, an authorized Sprinter dealer will replace the front passenger airbags.

Prior to performing this Recall Campaign:

• Please check VMI to determine if the vehicle is involved in the Campaign and if it has been previously repaired.
• Please review the entire Recall Campaign bulletin and follow the repair procedure exactly as described.

Please note that Recall Campaigns do not expire and may also be performed on a vehicle with a vehicle status indicator.

Approximately 24,074 vehicles are involved.

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Warranty Information

Operation:  Replace front passenger air bag (02 2723)

Damage Code	Operation Number	Labor Time (hrs.)
91931 63 7	02 2723	0.7

 

 

Procedure 

Warning	Risk of injury caused by performing testing or repair work on airbag or emergency tensioning retractor units.	Store airbag units with deployment side facing up; do not expose to temperatures greater than 100 °C. When working on these units, disconnect the power supply.
Warning	Risk of injury during testing and repair operations related to pyrotechnical components	Do not expose pyrotechnical component parts to temperatures above 100 ℃ or 212 °F. Disconnect current supply when working on such component parts.
Topical note	Information on preventing damage to electronic components due to electrostatic discharge
Topical note	Notes on carrying out repair work in the vehicle interior
Topical note	Notes on performing repair, body work and welding on vehicles with airbags and RTE units
	Legal requirements on handling and storing airbags and emergency tensioning retractor units
Check
1	Check whether vehicle is affected by measure.	For authorized Mercedes‑Benz service partners, only the entry in the “Extended VEGA Application” (EVA) system, in the “Current” tab is significant. An additional test of the affected vehicles in the workshop information system (WIS) or vehicle list is thereby not necessary.
Remove
2	Remove front passenger airbag.
Documentation of work performed
3	Document serial number of removed front passenger airbag.	If the “Mercedes-Benz Part Scan” application has already been published in your market and your Market Performance Center (MPC) has informed you about the possibility of using it for Mercedes- Benz Vans.   If the “Mercedes-Benz Part Scan” application has not yet been released in your market, it is not necessary to document the removed front passenger airbag.
4	Document serial number of new front passenger airbag.
Install
5	Install new front passenger airbag.

 

If the “Mercedes-Benz Part Scan” application has already been published in your market, and if your Mercedes-Benz Market Performance Center (MPC) has informed you about the possibility of using it for Mercedes-Benz Vans, please document the serial numbers (4) of the removed driver airbag (1) and of the new driver airbag (5) or of the removed front passenger airbag (2) and the new front passenger airbag (6) using this application. Detailed information on the use of the application can be obtained separately from your MPC as part of the availability information.

QR code for “Mercedes-Benz Part Scan” app

 

The following information must always be observed!

• Before starting any work, make sure that neither fault messages nor warnings (in particular for the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)) are shown in the instrument cluster.
• A necessary fault rectification may not be invoiced under this service measure!
• To be prepared for the work procedure, the “Mercedes‑Benz Part Scan” app must be installed on a terminal running an Apple® IOS operating system or an Android® operating system.
• A mobile Internet connection is required for installation and data transfer!
• Download the app from the “Apple® App Store” for terminals running an Apple® IOS operating system or from the “Google® Play Store” for terminals running an Android® operating system (the download is similar to that for other apps).
• After the download a non-recurring login authentication is performed using an encoded QR code (follow the instructions for the “Mercedes‑Benz Part Scan” app).
• The required QR code can be scanned here from the picture. Make sure that only authorized workshop personnel has access to the QR code!

 

Shown on driver airbag (1)
1 Driver airbag	3 Adhesive label	4 Serial number

 

Shown on front passenger airbag (2)
2 Front passenger airbag	3 Adhesive label	4 Serial number

 

The serial number (4) consists of the following information:

• A-object number (e.g. A906860200005)
• Color number (e.g. 9051)
• Sequential number (e.g. 831716400752001)
• Q-status (e.g. Q001)

This information must be read off the adhesive label (3) and entered consecutively without spaces (e.g. A906860200005905183171640075001Q001) as the serial number (4).

1 Document the serial number (4) of the removed driver airbag (1) or of the removed front passenger airbag (2)using “Mercedes-Benz Part Scan”.

 

 

 

Shown on new driver airbag (5)
3 Adhesive label	5 New driver airbag
4 Serial number	7 QR code

 

SShown on new front passenger airbag (6)
3 Adhesive label	6 New front passenger airbag
4 Serial number	7 QR code

 

2.1 If the “Mercedes-Benz Part Scan” application has already been published in your market and your MPC has informed you about the possibility of using it for Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Document the new driver airbag (5) or the new front passenger airbag (6) using “Mercedes-Benz Part Scan”.

 

To do this, scan the serial number (4) on the adhesive label (3) with the QR code (7) on the new driver airbag (4) or the new front passenger airbag (6). If necessary, the serial number (4) of the new driver airbag (5) or of the new front passenger airbag (6) can also be documented manually using the keypad. To do this, read off the serial number (4) on the adhesive label (3) on the new driver airbag (5) or the new front passenger airbag (6) and enter it manually in the application using the keypad.

 

2.2 If the “Mercedes-Benz Part Scan” application has not been published.

Document serial number (4) of new driver airbag (5) or new front passenger airbag (6) via Vehicle Documentation (VeDoc).

 

To do this, enter the serial number (4) in the Variable Product Data (VPD) screen in VeDoc in the field “VPD Ident 10006” for the driver’s airbag and in the field “VPD Ident 10007” for the front passenger airbag.

Documentation in VeDoc can only be performed by a user with write privileges. If write privileges do not exist, documentation must be performed using the Extended VEGA Application (EVA) system.

To do this, enter the serial number (4) in the VEGA system as an additional text or note.

 

 

Parts ordering note 

Part no.	Designation	Quantity
A 906 860 20 00 05 9051	Passenger airbag	1
A 019 990 58 01	Screw	4
A 002 997 24 90 64	Cable tie	1

 

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16 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
FREIGHTLINER	SPRINTER 2500	2014-2017
FREIGHTLINER	SPRINTER 3500	2014-2017
MERCEDES BENZ	SPRINTER 2500	2014-2017
MERCEDES BENZ	SPRINTER 3500	2014-2017

 

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13 Associated Documents

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-19V004-6706.pdf 309.87KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V004-8847.PDF 215.116KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V004-4251.pdf 245.111KB

 

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Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V004-6205.pdf 97.702KB

 

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Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V004-6358.pdf 192.05KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-19V004-4997.pdf 1015.874KB

 

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ISSUED Interim Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RIONL-19V004-3784.pdf 226.143KB

 

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ISSUED Interim Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RIONL-19V004-3373.pdf 182.357KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-1

RCLQRT-19V004-9964.PDF 211.134KB

 

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Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V004-9125.pdf 361.185KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2019-2

RCLQRT-19V004-8830.PDF 211.238KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-19V004-4201.pdf 1206.858KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2019-3

RCLQRT-19V004-2361.PDF 211.331KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most Recent Recalls Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V004&docType=RCL

 

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1 Associated Investigation

Air Bag Inflator Rupture
NHTSA ID: EA15001
Dated opened: February 24, 2015

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers. All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.

During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers. Nonetheless, at ODI’s insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation. The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures. As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.

Takata’s initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida. Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas. Takata’s testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions. During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.

Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina. Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls. Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity. Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing. All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.

The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time. ODI’s investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.

The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

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