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NHTSA Is Investigating Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse for Faulty Airbags

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Mercedes E-Klasse cars after it has received complaints about faulty airbags, Bloomberg informs.

US regulators have launched an investigation since they fear airbags may not deploy properly in the event of a crash. About 100,000 cars belonging to the 2005 and 2006 model-years may be affected, the NHTSA said on its website on Tuesday.

The US auto safety agency said it received four complaints about failures in the module-wiring harness of the steering column, which can affect the proper functioning of airbags. In other words, in the event of a frontal crash airbags could fail to deploy.

The issue arises when the steering wheel is set to a high position by the driver. “If a customer puts that steering wheel at a very raised position, if your steering wheel is telescoped all the way up, the wiring harness may be a little too short… It is the kind of thing if your light went on and you went to the dealer, they would be able to rectify that,” said Robert Moran, a spokesman of Mercedes-Benz USA.

So far no injuries linked to this issue have been reported. Daimler AG, the owner of the Mercedes-Benz brand, is the world’s second-largest maker of luxury cars after BMW AG.

Following Toyota’s record recalls for defects that may cause unintended acceleration, the US Congress has focused more on auto safety this year. NHTSA Administrator David Strickland is scheduled to testify tomorrow at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on legislation to increase regulation.
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