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40 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2024. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
On some 2024 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, the welds holding the bracket for the parking brake cable can break. If that happens, the parking brake can let go on its own after you have set it. A van parked on any kind of slope could then roll away by itself and hit a person, another vehicle, or property. Dealers will inspect the parking brake cable bracket and repair it if needed, at no cost to you.
Daimler Vans is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans. The lit display behind the steering wheel, the one showing your speed, gauges and warning lights, may not dim when you adjust it, so in some lighting it stays too bright. A glaring display can make it hard to read safety information while you drive. The vans also fail a federal rule for controls and displays. Dealers will fix it with a free software update.
On these Sprinter vans, the U-shaped bolts that clamp the rear axle to the leaf springs were heat-treated incorrectly at the factory, so they are weaker than they should be. If a weak bolt stretches or breaks, the rear axle can shift out of place. When that happens, the van can become unstable and the driver can lose control. A dealer will replace the U-bolts with correctly made ones, free.
On some 2019-2023 Mercedes-Benz and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vans, bolts are missing from the partition wall — the divider between the front seats and the cargo area behind them. Without all of its bolts, the wall is not held firmly in place and could break loose in a crash and injure people up front. A dealer will look at the partition and install whatever bolts are missing, at no charge to the owner.
Some 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vans left the factory without reinforcement fasteners in the long frame rails that run the length of the van. Those fasteners help hold the structure together and also help anchor the third-row seat. Without them the van is less stable on the road, and in a crash the third-row seat mounts can pull loose and hurt whoever is sitting there. A dealer inspects and repairs the frame for free.
When you start the van, the display behind the steering wheel — the one with the speedometer, fuel gauge and warning lights — may come up completely blank. The problem is in the software that runs that display. With a blank panel you cannot see how fast you are going, how much fuel is left, or any warning message the van is trying to show you. A dealer reloads the instrument display software, and the repair costs you nothing.
Certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vans with a manual parking brake and the 7-speed automatic transmission have a part that can wear out. A small guide bushing on the parking pawl, the piece inside the transmission that locks the wheels when you shift into Park, can fatigue. When that happens, Park may not actually hold the van, and it can roll away on its own after you park it, which increases the risk of a crash.
Your van has a built-in feature that can call an emergency call center for help. A software mistake on the SIM card inside the van's communication unit can keep it from connecting to the mobile network, which shuts that emergency calling feature off. The van itself drives normally. But if you are in a crash or another emergency, the van may not be able to place that call, so help could take longer to arrive.
A software error can keep the backup camera from putting its picture on the screen. When the image does not come up, you lose your view of what is behind the van, which makes backing into someone or something more likely. Because of this, these vans do not meet the federal rear visibility rule. The fix is a software update for the rearview camera that a dealer installs, and it costs you nothing.
A software glitch in the van's park lock means putting the shifter in 'P' may not actually hold the van still. If you don't also set the parking brake, the van can move on its own after you shift into Park and step away. The repair is a free software update to the control unit that manages the stability system. Until that is done, always set the parking brake when you park.
Some Sprinter vans built with swivel front seats may have the seat wiring routed the wrong way. When the seat turns, the wires can get pinched or jammed in the seat frame and damaged. Those wires run to the side airbag built into the seat. If they are damaged, that airbag may go off when it should not, or fail to go off in a crash. A dealer moves the wiring clip to the correct spot at no charge.
The software that runs the dashboard touchscreen can leave the screen black or make it restart after the van is started. When that happens, the backup camera picture may not appear, so the driver cannot see what is behind the van while reversing. Certain 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vans are covered. The fix is a free software update, done either at a dealer or sent to the van over the air.
A hose that carries fluid back from the power steering system may come loose and let the fluid leak out. Without that fluid, the steering can suddenly become very heavy while you are driving. The van still steers, but it takes far more muscle than you expect, and a sudden change like that can make you lose control. A dealer will install a screw-type clamp to hold the hose in place, at no cost.
The information screen in the dashboard cluster may not dim the way it should, so in some lighting it stays far brighter than it ought to be. Because the brightness cannot be adjusted, the vehicle does not meet the federal rule about controls and displays. A screen that glares can make it harder to see the road, especially at night. A dealer will load updated software into the instrument cluster free of charge.
A small washer and bolt that hold the brake pedal to its mounting block can work loose and fall off. When that happens, the brake lights can stay lit all the time, even when you are not pressing the brake pedal. Drivers behind you then have no way to tell when you are actually slowing down or stopping. Dealers will add an extra retaining ring at the pedal mounting bracket to hold everything in place, at no charge.
Vans ordered with the optional power sliding door may have the wrong type of backup lock installed for that door. Because of this, the vans do not meet a federal safety rule meant to keep people from being thrown out of a vehicle. In a crash, the sliding door could move open farther than it is supposed to, so people inside are more likely to be injured. The dealer's fix converts the power sliding door to a manual one, free of charge.
When you shift into reverse, the backup camera picture may take longer than two seconds to appear on the screen. The picture can also be covered up by the emergency call pop-up window if that system switches on while you are backing up. Either way, you cannot see what is behind the van at the moment you need to. Federal rules require the view to appear quickly and stay visible.
These vans have an automatic emergency call system that dials for help after a crash and tells responders where you are. A software problem in the van's communication unit can send the wrong location. If you crash and cannot call for help yourself, ambulances and police could be sent to the wrong place, delaying the help you need. Everything else about the van works normally. A dealer will load corrected software at no cost.
On some 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vans with electric parking brakes, the rear brake calipers can leak brake fluid into the parking brake housing. Once fluid escapes, air gets into the brake lines. Air squishes when you press the pedal, so the pedal can sink much farther toward the floor than normal before the van slows down. The dealer will replace the rear brake calipers at no cost to you.
These vans were delivered with an owner's manual — both the printed book and the digital version in the vehicle — that may be wrong or missing information. If you follow the instructions in that manual, you could operate something in the van incorrectly, because the description of how a feature works may not match your actual vehicle. Nothing on the van itself is being repaired. Mercedes will give you an up-to-date printed manual and update the digital one in the van, free.
The hose that returns fluid to the power steering system can come loose where it connects, letting steering fluid leak out. If that happens you can suddenly lose power steering assist, which makes the wheel very hard to turn with little warning. The leaking fluid can also spill onto the road and make it slippery for you and for other drivers. A dealer will check the return line connections and fix them as needed, free of charge.
The clamps that hold the fuel lines in place on these 2019-2020 Sprinter vans can work themselves loose over time. If a clamp loosens, gasoline can leak out of the line. Leaking fuel around a hot engine is what makes this dangerous, because it can catch fire. Mercedes sent owners an early warning letter in November 2020, and the actual repair became available in January 2021. A dealer will check every fuel hose clamp and tighten or replace parts as needed.
Nothing is broken on the van itself. The printed Operator's Manual describes the automatic park feature, called Auto-P, incorrectly. A driver who follows the manual might believe the van has put itself in park and is holding still when it has not. The van could then roll away or move on its own after the driver steps out. Dealers will hand out corrected pages describing how Auto-P really works, and owners should read them before relying on the feature.
The plastic liner behind the front wheels on these 2019 Sprinter vans can rub against the rubber brake hose. Over time that rubbing wears a hole in the hose, and brake fluid can leak out. With less fluid, the brakes lose pressure, so the van takes longer to stop when you press the pedal. Dealers will check the brake hoses and replace any that are damaged, and they will also reshape the fender liners so the rubbing stops.
Some 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vans were fitted with winter tires that may have been put on facing the wrong way. Winter tires have a tread pattern made to turn in one direction only. Mounted backwards, they cannot clear away water and snow the way they should, so the van can have less grip on wet or snowy roads. A dealer will check which way each tire faces and turn or replace them.
On certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vans, the label on the spare tire lists the top speed as 55 kilometers per hour instead of 34 miles per hour. A driver who reads that number as 55 mph could drive far faster than the spare tire is built to handle. A dealer will swap in a corrected label that shows the speed in miles per hour. If you are driving on the spare right now, keep your speed at or below 34 mph.
On certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vans, the label that tells you the top safe speed for the spare tire was never stuck onto the spare wheel. Without it, a driver using the spare has no reminder of the speed limit for that tire and could drive too fast for it, which can make the tire fail. A dealer will attach the correct speed-limit label to the spare wheel, at no cost to you.
On some 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vans, the plastic cover that closes off the steering column was never installed at the factory. That leaves the steering column area open. If a small loose item — a nut, a screw, or similar hardware — falls into that opening, it can get into the steering parts and interfere with how the steering works. Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter dealers will replace the steering column with one that has the cover, at no cost.
The steering shaft that runs from your steering wheel down to the steering gear is held by a support bearing partway along. On these vans, the screws holding that support may not have been tightened enough at the factory, so they can work loose and fall out. If that happens, the van can become hard to steer. The dealer will fit new screws and tighten them properly. The recall repair started April 13, 2020.
On certain 2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vans, the screws holding a pipe that routes exhaust back into the engine may not have been tightened enough at the factory. If those screws are loose, very hot exhaust gas can escape under the hood, where it can heat up or ignite nearby parts and start a fire. Dealers will redo the screw connection and fit new seals so the joint is sealed tight again.
On certain 2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vans, the joint where the turbocharger connects to the exhaust filter may not be fastened properly. A loose joint lets hot exhaust gas escape into the engine compartment, and that leaking gas can heat up or ignite parts around it and start a fire. Dealers will replace the seals at that joint and tighten the connection correctly so the exhaust stays inside the system.
The metal rails along the inside walls of the cargo area — the ones you hook straps onto when tying down a load — may not have been attached correctly at the factory. Over time they can work loose and pull away from the wall. If that happens while you are driving, whatever you strapped to them is no longer held in place and can shift or spill around inside the van.
Some 2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vans with diesel engines may have a fuel pump that was never twisted shut and locked into the fuel tank during assembly. Diesel can leak out where the pump meets the tank. It also means the nozzle at the fuel station may not click off by itself when the tank is full, so fuel can spill over. Dealers will inspect that connection and lock it properly.
The front seats in these Sprinter vans have a height adjuster — the part that raises and lowers the seat. On some vans, a weld holding that part together wasn't done properly, so it may be weaker than it should be. If the van is in a crash, that weak weld could break and let the seat cushion slide forward out of position. Your dealer will replace the tilt adjuster on both front seats at no cost to you.
These 2019 Sprinter vans have a small part in the door frame called an abutting wedge. Its job is to help the front doors still open after a hard front-end crash. On the recalled vans, that part may have been put in wrong. If you were in a serious front crash, it could take much more force to get the driver's or front passenger's door open, which could delay help reaching anyone inside. A dealer will check both front doors and fix them.
The airbag system in these vans may not have been activated after the van was built. If it was left switched off, the airbags simply will not go off in a crash, and the van does not meet the federal rule for crash protection. Nothing about the way the van drives or looks will tell you whether yours is affected. A dealer will check whether the airbag system is active and turn it on if it is not, at no cost.
These vans left the plant without the final quality check that makes sure safety-related parts and bolts were properly installed and tightened. Because that inspection was skipped, nobody knows for certain whether something is loose. A loose safety part could fail while you are driving and lead to a crash or injury. Mercedes will have these vans brought back to the reassembly plant for a full inspection, and anything found wrong will be corrected free of charge.
On certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vans, the screw holding the upper hood catch may not have been tightened enough at the factory. Because of that, speed, wind, and rough roads can cause the hood to pop open while you are driving, which blocks your view of the road ahead. A dealer will check that screw connection and tighten it if needed, at no cost to you. This repair has been available since November 2019.
These vans have a manual dial that switches the lights on and off. If you twist that dial quickly from one setting to another, the taillights can become much dimmer or switch off completely. Drivers behind you would then have trouble seeing your van, especially at night or in bad weather, and you may not realize your lights are out. The fix is a software update to the van's body control computer, done at the dealer.
Some Sprinter vans left the factory with the wrong glass in the rear side windows — plain single-pane safety glass instead of laminated glass, which has a thin clear plastic layer bonded inside it. Laminated glass holds together when it breaks and helps keep people inside the van. With the wrong glass, people riding in the back are more likely to be thrown out of the van in a hard side impact or a rollover. Dealers install the correct glass for free.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: