Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
55 distinct recall campaigns
4,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 to 2024 model years. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 29 complaints (27.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 27.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 13.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 8; Engine: 5; Power Train: 4; Electrical System: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Steering: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 20 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 7 |
2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 5; 2022: 6; 2023: 6; 2024: 7
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11400063 · 2021-03-09 (March 9, 2021)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT FOOT ON GAS PEDAL AFTER THE ABS ,ESP AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASH. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I RESPONDED TO MERCEDES DEALER AND VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAULTY REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT 'SENSORS GO OUT ALL THE TIME ON THESE VEHICLES'.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11400063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11281858 · 2019-11-22 (November 22, 2019)
LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST OPTION - DANGEROUS AND DEADLY DESIGN IN CROSS WINDS, PASSING OR BEING PASSED BY OTHER TALL VEHICLES, ETCHING OUT OF ROAD TRAFFIC LANE MARKINGS IN CONSTRUCTION AREAS, AND ATTEMPTING ANY SWERVING EMERGENCY EVASIVE ACTION - THE VEHICLE BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCK UP AND THE STEERING BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE, THIS CAUSES ABRUPT RAPID DECELERATION AND LITTLE TO NO STEERING CONTROL. I ALMOST CAUSED A 6 VEHICLE PILE UP ON THE INTERSTATE THE FIRST TIME I DROVE MY NEW 2019 SPRINTER. AS IF THE ABOVE IS NOT HORRIBLE ENOUGH AND COUNTER T…
Owner-reported narrative. 295 miles reported. Look up ODI 11281858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11290921 · 2019-12-23 (December 23, 2019)
CLAMP ON THE POWER STEER HOSE CAME OFF. THE SPRING CLAMP DID NOT HOLD AND THE HOSE IS STRETCHED TOO TIGHT. WE LIVE IN FAIRBANKS, AK AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS -30 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES. WE WERE ABLE TO PUT ANOTHER CLAMP ON, WITH ONLY GETTING MINOR FROSTBITE ON FINGERS. WE WERE LUCKY THIS HAPPENED IN TOWN. THIS VEHICLE IS BEING PROMOTED AS A VEHICLE TO ACCESS MORE REMOTE LOCATIONS. THIS COULD LEAVE PEOPLE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY ON THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. WE WERE LUCKILY …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 11290921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11539986 · 2023-08-22 (August 22, 2023)
on 08-03=23, I as driving MB sprinter van on highway Route 84 east toward Connecticut, when I was near Southington exit smoke was coming out of AC vent, I took exit to route 10 and stopped van right after exit on the road, and opened hood, there was active fire near lower left side engine, with help of drivers who stopped behind me, I extinguished fire with fire extinguisher and called MB road service system, police arrived first and towing vehicle from MB arrived and towed van to MB dealer called New Country Mercedes Benz, where van was inspec…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11539986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11547376 · 2023-09-29 (September 29, 2023)
Fuel pump recall July 5. No resolution. Vehicle deemed unsafe per recall. Please advise. Have contacted Mercedes Benz and also local dealer. No resolution at this time. What are the next steps?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11547376 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 38 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 7; 2019: 38; 2020: 22; 2021: 17; 2022: 7; 2023: 6; 2024: 2