2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 21 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electronic stability control (esc). It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electronic Stability Control (esc)5
000
Air Bags4
101
Unknown or Other3
010
Electrical System3
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Seats1
001
Power Train1
000
Fuel System, Diesel1
000
Engine1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc) › Control Module21V042000
Filed Feb 3, 202148,667 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module17V480000
Filed Jul 28, 201717,609 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012 Freightliner and Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled into 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 rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on January 12, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Note: This recall supersedes recall 17V-025.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module16V077000
Filed Feb 10, 2016136,361 vehiclesDaimler Vans Usa, Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility14V706000
Filed Nov 5, 201434 vehiclesCummings Mobility Conversion & Supply

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Aug 31, 2026IN

This vehicle was subject to NHTSA Recall Number 19V003 involving failure of rear wheel speed sensors. The recall was completed by a dealer in April 2022 at 70,466 miles. At just under 90,000 miles in August 2026 a failure was indicated for the right rear wheel speed sensor. Error code C003A indicated on OBD-II scanner. This failure triggered ABS, ASR/ABS and EPS warning lights for functions including antilock braking, traction control and stability control. This also triggered a check engine light and speed control was disabled. The owners manual indicates a risk of accident. Dealer and MB says there is no additional warranty or action for the wheel speed sensor that repeatedly fails.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jun 28, 2021NE

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V042000 (Electronic Stability Control) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Engine
Filed May 14, 202111,400 milesTN

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START UP AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,400.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 14, 2021TN

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL TIMES TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE VEHICLE.IT MAY START EACH TIME FOR WEEKS AND THEN YOU MIGHT TRY 30 TOMES BEFORE IT WOULD START AGAIN. IF ONE HAD AN EMERGENCY AND NEEDED TO FIND A DOCTOR QUICK YOU WOULD BE HOPING THAT IT WOULD START. I WOULD ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO GOOGLE" WHY WANT MY SPRINTER START" ONE COULD SEE HOW WIDE SPEED THIS IS IN THE SPRINTER WORLD. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES FROM 2017-2021.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 19, 2021129,000 milesAK

ON OR ABOUT MARCH 11TH, I WENT TO MERCEDES BENZ OF 4000 N. MAIN STREET, GAINESVILLE FL. TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SAFETY RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 21V042000 ON MY 2012 SPRINTER 3500 ( VIN WDA PF4CA2C9519207,PRODUCTION DATE 04/12/2012). I MET WITH MICHAEL POTTEIGER, ASST. SERVICE MANAGER. TO MY DISMAY, MR. POTTEIGER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL AND THAT MERCEDES ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF FAILED REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTEE PERIOD. IN OTHER WORDS, THE SENSORS COULD ONLY BE REPLACED AFTER THEY FAILED. SINCE NHTSA PART 573 SAFETY RECALL REPORT 21V-042 DATED FEB 03, 2021 INDICATES THAT THE PLANNED DEALER NOTIFICATION DATE WAS FEB 22, 2021 THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL AND DELIBERATELY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE REMEDY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL REPORT. REQUEST THAT YOU TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO IMMEDIATELY CORRECT THIS VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FUTURE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES. THANK YOU.03

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 12, 202111,000 milesTN

I( HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS AND I CANNOT COUNT THE TIMES IT FAILED TO START. WHEN YOU TRIED TO START IT THE ENGINE NEVER WOULD TURN OVER.SOME TIMES I WOULD TRY TO START IT FOR DOZENS OF TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER. THIS COULD BE S SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR SENIOR PEOPLE. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE SPRINTER FORUM. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER FAILED TO START. IT MIGHT TAKE YOU 30 TIMES OR SOMETIMES IT STARTS ON THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY

Air BagsCrash1 injured1 killed
Filed Feb 9, 2021TX

MY SON CHRISTOPHER JOHN LEE HOWARD WAS IS TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN DALLAS ON SEPT 11,2020 AND DIED AS A RESULT SEVERE INJURIES INTERNAL INJURIES THAT LEAD TO MAJOR BLEEDING OF THE STOMACH AND UPPER TORSO.*DT*DT*JB

Power Train
Filed Dec 10, 202025,000 milesCA

THIS SPRINTER IS A WINNEBAGO 170X RV CONVERSION. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE IN 2016 WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE REMAINS ON BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGED. STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING CLEARS UP THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN UNTIL A FAILING REAR SPEED SENSOR IS REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE LOCAL MB DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR SENSORS FREE OF CHARGE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME A WHEEL SENSOR FAILED WE WERE FAR FROM HOME AND HAD TO DELAY OUR TRIP SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE CORRECT PART COULD BE INSTALLED. I HAVE ALSO FOUND IN REPAIR RECEIPTS FROM THE PRIOR OWNER THAT A REAR SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHEN THEY OWNED THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE MODE - SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON FREEWAYS INCLUDING ONCE IN THE FAST LANE WHERE PULLING OVER TO THE RIGHT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. WE NOW CARRY A SPARE SET OF REAL WHEEL SPEED SENSORS IF WE FIND OURSELVES IN A LOCATION WHERE MERCEDES BENZ PARTS ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 8, 202038,500 milesNY

THIS IS A SECOND OCCURANCE OF A PROBLEM REPORTED UNDER COMPLAINT NO. 11094122. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (CEL, ABS, ESC AND ASC). DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A 'MALFUNCTIONNING RPM SENSOR'.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Oct 28, 202045,692 milesCA

A THOR MOTOR COACH ON A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER MDB 11K 170 16 0257554 CHASSIS. ON 4/17/2019 THE DEF SENSOR FAILED ON 05/18/2020 THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILED. ON 09/14/2020 THE BATTERY FAULT PANEL BLEW OUT. ON 10/12/2020 THE EXHAUST GAS SENSOR FAILED. ON 10/22/2020 THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILED. THESE FAILURES HAPPENED WHILE ON TRIPS WITH NO AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES WITHIN 100 MILES LEAVING THE PEOPLE IN THE COACH IN UNSAFE LOCATIONS WITH NO CELL PHONE SERVICE. THIS COACH HAS A FEATURE THAT PUTS IT INTO A LIMP MODE, THAT SHIFTS IT INTO LOW GEAR WITH A MAXIMUM SPEED OF ABOUT 25 MPH WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE ON ANY HIGHWAY. THIS IS PROMOTED AS A SAFETY FEATURE WHEN IN FACT IT IS A HAZARD FEATURE.*DT*JB

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Oct 22, 202048,041 milesFL

EIGHT (8) WHEEL SPEED INDICATORS HAVE FAILED AT THE FOLLOWING MILEAGES: 21,866/26 AUG 2015 (2 EACH REAR AXLE); 22,594/8 SEP 2015 ('2 EACH FRONT AXLE); 40,996/17 APR 2018 (1 EACH RIGHT REAR AXLE) AND (1 EACH LEFT FRONT AXLE); 42,319/ 9 MAY 2018 (1 EACH RIGHT FRONT AXLE); AND 48,041/ 2 OCT 2018 (1 EACH LEFT REAR AXLE). EACH FAILURE RESULTED IN AN INDUCED SEVERE REDUCTION OF VEHICLE SPEED CAUSING AN INTENSE SAFETY ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR VEHICLE AND OTHER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. ALL FAILURES ARE DOCUMENTED WITH REPAIRS CONDUCTED BY AN MERCEDES BENZE REPAIR FACILITY. NON OF THE FAILURES WERE EXPLAINABLE BY THE FACILITIES AND WAS SIMPLY A 'SHRUG OF SHOULDERS'. THERE IS NO WAY TO OVER-RIDE THE INDUCED SPEED REDUCTION AND IS UNACCEPTABLE. ALL FAILURES WERE EXPERIENCED ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS OR INTERSTATES. DOCUMENTATION WILL BE FORWARDED IF REQUESTED. PLEASE ADD TO NHTSA PE 20014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Oct 12, 202015,000 milesNC

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CLEAR WEATHER, ABS/BAS/ESP WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON CAUSING LIMITED DRIVING DUE TO NO ABS BRAKING CRUISE CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON VARIOUS WHEELS OF MY SPRINTER 3500 FROM 2013-2019. THE FAILURE OF THESE SENSORS CAUSES A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. BESIDES THE SAFETY ASPECT, REPAIR OF THESE SENSORS ARE $500 EACH OCCURRENCE.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 21, 2020CA

WE GOT A NOTICE ABOUT RECALLS

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed May 11, 201931,000 milesMI

FIRE - LOOKS LIKE STARTED IN FRIDGE AREA. COULDN'T PUT OUT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ONSITE WITHIN 5-6 MINUTES BUT TOTAL LOSS BY THIS TIME. *DT*JB*DT*JB

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Oct 26, 2018NC

2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO FAULTY DESIGN THAT CAUSED INJECTORS TO LEAK SPRAYING FUEL OVER ENGINE BAY. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *AS *JS

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed May 16, 2018NY

DROVE ON INTERSTATE EXPRESSWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS WARNING, ESC WARNING AND ASC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO CAREFULLY COAST TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND CHECKED FOR OBVIOUS PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD, BUT FOUND NOTHING. STARTED ENGINE UP AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME, ALTHOUGH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON. MB DEALER DIAGNOSIS SHOWED A MALFUNCTIONING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND REPLACED IT. NOT EXACTLY A PLEASANT FEELING WHEN YOU'RE IN EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC AND SUDDENLY LOOSE ALL PROPULSION!!

Air Bags
Filed Jan 10, 2018FL

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF DELRAY, 1001 LINTON BLVD, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33444) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 5, 201738,200 milesCA

WHILE IN MOTION AND ACCELERATING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLS WHEN ABRUPTLY TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR REQUIRING COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, SHIFT TO PARK, RESTART. AFTER RESTART, ENGINE OPERATES NORMALLY UNTIL ABRUPTLY TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR. WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR SLOWLY, ENGINE DOES NOT STALL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. VERY DANGEROUS ON A LEFT TURN OR IN TRAFFIC. I FOUND A SIMILAR COMPLAINT: ​NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10628368

Air Bags
Filed Sep 28, 2016CA

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 26, 20146,738 milesFL

VEHICLE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE GOING 70MPH ON I95 IN JACKSONVILLE FL.LOST ALL POWER FOR STEERING, BRAKES AND ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. NO POWER FOR RADIO/A/C OR ANYTHING. MANAGED TO MANEUVER VEHICLE IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TRAFFIC OVER 5 LANES ONTO OFFING RAMP, AND STOP ON SIDE OF RAMP. THIS WAS A VERY HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE.THE VEHICLE GAVE NO WARNING LIGHTS, JUST A MILD "BEEP" TYPE SOUND AND THEN SHUT DOWN. AFTER PULLING TO SIDE OF ROAD THERE WERE NO CODES THAT CAME UP ON DASH...COULD OF CAUSED FATALITY. *TR

20 of 21 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2016
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20243300Routine
202317600Routine
20228600Routine
202181600Routine
2020132200Routine
2019274110Routine
201891000Routine
201728900Routine
2016621620Routine
2015371500Routine
201454710Routine
201345500Routine
2012 — this page21411Fatalities reported
20118400Routine
20104600Routine
20091110Routine
20081000Routine
20070100Routine

Compare every Sprinter 3500 year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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: Feb 3, 2021. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.