Mercedes-Benz recalling 400,000 cars in UK over airbags

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 400,000 cars in the UK after an electrical fault that could cause airbags to deploy by mistake came to light.

The fault affects the company's best-selling executive and family models, leading to the recall of about half the fleet sold since 2011.

According to Mercedes, there have been 30 cases worldwide of airbags deploying prematurely due to the problem although no cases had been reported in the UK. The fault had caused minor injuries in a number of cases but no fatalities have been reported.

The fault has been detected in A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, and E-Class, and CLA, GLA, and GLC ranges, built between November 2011 and July 2017.

The fault can be fixed in about half an hour and involves replacing a clock spring in the steering column.

The clock spring can fail at times and when the steering wheel is turned, some wires do not earth properly. This could cause wires to 'short circuit' or create an 'electrical discharge' which can then trigger the air-bags prematurely.

According to Mercedes, the cars are safe to drive under normal conditions, but owners are warned that if a red airbag warning light appears on the dashboard they should immediately call Mercedes' roadside assistance.

A Mercedes spokesperson told the BBC: "If the steering column module clock spring is broken and the wiring components are not sufficiently earthed, this could lead to an electrostatic discharge which could inadvertently deploy the driver's airbag."

The carmaker said it would contact all customers whose cars may be affected and ask them to bring their vehicle in to be checked.

According to the company, the recall is not related to the Takata exploding airbags scandal and the problem can be fixed in half an hour free of cost.

The Takata airbags issue has forced carmakers to recall millions of cars globally; the safety devices have been linked to at least 16 deaths and 180 injuries