2020 Freightliner Sprinter 2500

Routine

Owners filed 7 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 17 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine3
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Lane Departure › Assist1
000
Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking1
000
Exterior Lighting1
000

17 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Structure › Critical Fasteners23V875000
Filed Dec 21, 20233,739 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The longitudinal frame members may be missing reinforcement fasteners, reducing vehicle stability and decreasing the structural integrity of the third-row seats.

Risk. Reduced stability increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, the third-row seat mountings can fail, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and repair the frame members as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 4, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3ROHRAH.

Structure › Critical Fasteners23V876000
Filed Dec 21, 2023387 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The partition wall may be missing bolts, allowing the wall to detach during a crash.

Risk. A detached partition wall can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and secure the partition wall as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 16, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3TREWAN.

Structure › Body23V874000
Filed Dec 21, 20239 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The connection between the propeller shaft bearing and crossmember may loosen, reducing vehicle control.

Risk. Reduced vehicle control increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, the propeller shaft may damage the fuel tank during a crash, causing a leak and increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the crossmember as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3QUERTR.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel23V204000
Filed Mar 24, 20236,857 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.

Risk. A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will update the instrument cluster software on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3KOMBAUS.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Internal › Park Pawl22V796000
Filed Oct 21, 2022124,305 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with a manual parking brake and 7-speed automatic transmission. The guide bushing on the parking pawl may fatigue, which can cause the parking pawl not to engage and result in vehicle rollaway.

Risk. Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will update the software of the electronic stability, transmission control, direct select module, and electronic ignition switch control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's numbers for this recall are 22V2790611, 22V2790612, and 22V2790613.

Communication › Auto Crash Notification22V360000
Filed May 20, 202219,937 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Metris, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

Risk. A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update, or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2SIMKOM/VS3SIMKOM.

Back Over Prevention › Display Function22V281000
Filed Apr 27, 202212,086 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk. An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3KOMRUE.

Electrical System › Software21V972000
Filed Dec 15, 202148,400 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. A software error in the park lock system may allow the vehicle to move after the gear selector has been placed in the Park 'P' position without the parking brake applied.

Risk. Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will update the electronic stability program control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 11, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3PA27 ERI/ERO.

Electrical System › Software21V411000
Filed Jun 2, 202133,437 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk. A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy. The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on July 23, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3UXPOBOX.

Air Bags › Passenger Side Frontal › Cushion21V410000
Filed Jun 2, 20214,078 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling 2019-2021 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with swivel seats. The wiring harnesses for the front seats may have been routed incorrectly and could become jammed and damaged in the swivel seat frames.

Risk. Damage to the wiring harness can prevent the side air bag within the seat to deploy inadvertently or not deploy as designed, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Dealers will attach the mounting clip to the correct position, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 11, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3DREHSEL.

Showing 10 of 17 campaigns, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Sep 5, 2025CO

The Cooling fan behind the radiator also known as the clutch fan fell off the water pump. I realized it before it fell on the highway during rush hour and caused a major accident and engine failure. This is a very common problem and is all over the internet. In most cases it will take out the radiator, fan assembly, belts and hoses as reported by many on the internet when you google “MB sprinter clutch fan falls off”.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 23, 2023WA

On May 22, 2023 around 19:00 after driving my vehicle for nearly 90 minutes the vehicle no longer responded to the gas pedal being depressed by increasing acceleration. The vehicle would not go over 2,500 RPMs even with the gas pedal fully depressed. No warning were shown on the driver display or in the messaging system. The manual gear shifting did not work to raise or lower the gears while the vehicle was in this state. The vehicle display showed the vehicle in "D" for Drive and I could not change it to any other value such as D1, D2, etc.. The vehicle had almost no power and would not accelerate except for very slowly taking over 1.5 minutes to reach 55 mph. This is a SEVERELY dangerous situation as without warning my vehicle stopped responding to driver input in a reasonable fashion and thus if I was attempting to turn onto a busy road or cross a road my vehicle would not have enough acceleration to do so and could cause an accident resulting in serious death or injury. No warnings or alerts were shown on driver console. Parking assistance was turned off. Lane departure was turned off. I cycled on/off the cruise control to no avail. I evened turned the engine off and on and the problem still persisted. It wasn't until I was able to safely pull off later and power off the vehicle and wait 5 minutes that the problem went away. It is incomprehensible to me why we allow car manufacturers to override user input and commands with faulty and buggy computer software. If I press t

Engine
Filed Jan 25, 2023DE

Engine destroyed by oil and water accumulation in intercooler that was pulled through the turbo and entered cylinder 6. Bent connecting rod on Cylinder 6, Bent and torn turbo vanes. Sudden loss of power while operating. Mercedes is replacing the entire motor. No Symptoms before the event, check engine light after first restart.

Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking
Filed Jan 14, 2023WA

Driving in center lane of three lane interstate highway in the evening so it was dark. I had cruise control set at 55 mph. Nothing to my right and at least 100 yards of nothing in front of me. A white sedan speeds by in the left lane staying entirely in their left lane. My vehicle slammed on the brakes for some unknown reason almost causing the vehicle behind me to collide with me. A red triangle appeared on dash display for 2 seconds or so (not long enough to know what the computer thought happened ). No explanation given. No messages in drive computer. Absolutely awful. This could have caused a major accident and it was all done by a computer with no explanation. I want a dealer to download the log from my car for 17:52-17:53 on 1/14/23 and issue a complete and detailed report. There’s a severe safety issue and it must be fixed.

Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2022CO

I am experiencing cold start hesitation and unresponsive throttle at high elevation. The vehicle takes up to 20-30 seconds to accelerate, and puts me in a dangerous situation (in a highway intersection, for example). Once the engine temperature is warm, this issue goes away.

Lane Departure › Assist
Filed Jun 22, 2021WA

The Lane Keep Assistant (LKA) as implemented is a severe safety flaw. The LKA only take input from lane markers on the road but fails to consider other issues such as other vehicles or construction. Several times on my most recent drive on interstate highways at 70-80 mph I was passing large semi trucks. The trucks drifted out of their lane and into my lane. I took emergency evasive action to steer my vehicle out of the way of the semi truck but the Lane Keep Assistant (LKA) noticed I was out of my lane and aggressively steered my vehicle back into the other vehicle. Luckily I did not hit the other vehicle but the LKA made avoiding other vehicles more difficult and could contribute to a collision if the driver is not foreful enough to both steer out of the way of danger and to counter the steering control of the LKA. 1. This feature should not be allowed on vehicles as implemented. In my 30 years of the driving this is the most dangerous feature I have ever experienced. My vehicle is trying to kill me!! 2. This feature should have the ability to be set to "off" permanently or tied to a driver's profile settings to remain off while that driver is in control. Drivers should not have to remember to turn off the feature manually every time the car is started. 3. Driver's should have the ability to turn off steering control but still have the lane departure warning signal.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 20, 2021300 milesDE

COLOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INCLUDING COLOR DISPLAY BETWEEN THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WILL NOT DIM AT NIGHT. THE RESULTING WASH OF LIGHT MAKES SEEING OUT THE SIDE MIRRORS OR ANYTHING AT NIGHT VERY DIFFICULT. VAN IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. MANUFACTURE CONFIRMS THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NO FIX.

7 of 7 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2020
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20221100Routine
202101200Routine
2020 — this page71700Routine
201943600Routine
20182700Routine
20170500Routine
20161900Routine
20152800Routine
20144400Routine
20132400Routine
20122200Routine
20111400Routine
20104500Routine
20092400Routine
20085500Routine
20070500Routine
20063300Routine
20053300Routine
20040300Routine
20036510Routine
20020400Routine
20010200Routine

Compare every Sprinter 2500 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 21, 2023. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.