2013 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VALVES ON THE INNER REAR DUEL WHEELS BASICALLY CAN NOT BE CHECKED THROUGH THE VERY SMALL HOLES IN THE WHEEL COVERS OR EVEN WITHOUT THE WHEEL COVERS. I HAD, UPON DELIVERY OF THE SPRINTER, THE WHEELS REMOVED TO INSTALL METAL VALVE EXTENDERS SO I COULD REGULARLY CHECK TIRE PRESSURES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURES LEADS TO NO CHECKING, UNDER INFLATION AND ON ROAD TIRE FAILURE. THE SPRINTER 3500 SHOULD COME WITH FACTORY INSTALLED ACCESSIBLE VALVE EXTENDERS. I HAVE MET MULTIPLE SPRINTER DRIVERS WH…

Owner-reported narrative. 970 miles reported. Look up ODI 10638259 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKES ARE SOFT AND SPONGY. WHEN DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL WILL TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER IN MARCH, 2015, BUT THAT DID NOT CHANGE THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKES. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM VISITING SEVERAL FORUMS IS THAT THIS A COMMON COMPLAINT FROM OTHER SPRINTER OWNERS, YET MERCEDES BENZ SAYS THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLES. THE BRAKES ARE DANGEROUS AS THEY CURRENTLY OPERATE.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10778175 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE PEDAL IS SPONGY AND MUST BE PUMPED TO GET A FIRM PEDAL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND THEY TELL ME EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A SUDDEN SURPRISE STOP THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10779280 at NHTSA ↗

THIS 120 VAC ELECTRICAL ISSUE (SHOCK HAZARD) IS IN REGARD TO AN RV - A WINNEBAGO VIEW PROFILE SITTING ATOP A MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 3500 CHASSIS. THERE ARE TWO A/C CIRCUITS FOR "OUTLETS" (120 VAC PLUGS). #2 OUTLET CIRCUIT HAS A GROUND FAULT YET THE GFCI AT THE FIRST OUTLET IN THE CIRCUIT DOES NOT TRIP NOR DOES THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. WHEN MY RV IS POWERED FROM MY GARAGE 120 VAC GFCI PLUG IT IS NOT TRIPPED EITHER. I'VE GOTTEN ELECTRICAL SHOCKS AT THE WATER/ELECTRICAL STORAGE / ACCESS AREA WHILE ATTACHED TO A 120 VAC POWER SOURCE AND UNDER THE E…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10888826 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10893606 at NHTSA ↗

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10938785 at NHTSA ↗

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE REMEDY AND PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SOLD TO A BUYER. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11003452 at NHTSA ↗

"TAKATA AIRBAG" I PURCHASED A 2013 MERCEDEZ SPRINTER 3500 VAN THAT HAD BEEN CONVERTED THROUGH WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES IN FOREST CITY IA. WHEN I EXPORTED/IMPORTED THE VEHICLE INTO CANADA, I WAS UNABLE TO REGISTER THE MOTORHOME, DUE TO THE TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. THE REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLE IN NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA HAS GRANTED ME A TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR 2017 ONLY, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECEIVE ANY SORT OF TIME LINE AS TO THE APPROXIMATE DATE THAT THIS RECALL WILL BE REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD IN OCTOBER OF 2016 BY MERCEDES BENZ USA THAT THEY EXPECTED TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031486 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-11-05 (November 5, 2014)

Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Consequence: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Remedy: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.

Reported: 2016-02-10 (February 10, 2016)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler Vans) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 31, 2008, 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2014, and 2010-2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2010, to July 1, 2014. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Daimler Vans will notify the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners and Fiat Chrysler will notify the Dodge owners. The respective dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners may contact Daimler Van's customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Dodge owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2017-02-10 (February 10, 2017)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans. These vehicles were manufactured without a reinforcement plate and protective bracket on the air bag control unit. As a result, the air bag control unit may not remain functional after the initial impact, possibly preventing additional air bags from deploying in response to a secondary impact.

Consequence: If additional air bags do not deploy as intended, the occupants are at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install a reinforcement plate and protective bracket around the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

Reported: 2018-01-09 (January 9, 2018)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2013 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.

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

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on March 13, 2018. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

Reported: 2021-02-03 (February 3, 2021)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit may become disabled on these vehicles.

Consequence: If ESC becomes disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-wheel speed sensor with a more robust sensor, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on March 10, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is NC3DREZAHA.