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2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500, most often about the air bags (32% of complaints). It is 5th of 18 Sprinter 2500 model years by number of complaints and has 15 recalls.
Most common 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 problems
Air bags
9 complaints · 32%Takata recall passengers side air bag blow up and never came out seat belt wont work car was not in a collision or hit just went off as driving on road mb will not see truck to fix it tried 4 times to make them see it nasty people sad so sad
Mercedes benz refuses for over a year to fix my airbags passenger seat airbag deployed with no accident. Just driving about 25 miles an hour it employed at of now nowhere but airbag didn't come out
Speed control
5 complaints · 18%07/20/2016 buy day new van at sun motors benz dialer mechanicsburg pa-price 47k 09/20/2016 problem with transmission 02/07/2019 problem with transmission and DPF/doc cat (van is totally demerge after only two years)
My 2016 2500 sprinter continues to have wheel speed sensor failures every 2k-3k miles. When this happens the transmission acts erratically, anti-lock brake system starts to engage and disengage sporadically and the van sometime accelerates and prevents stopping. This creates a very dangerous situation, especially when…
Brakes
4 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: antilock.
Mercedes benz refuses for over a year to fix my airbags passenger seat airbag deployed with no accident. Just driving about 25 miles an hour it employed at of now nowhere but airbag didn't come out
The wheel sensors on this vehicle routinely fail. When they fail at high speeds(freeway driving) the cruise control, ABS, stability control, 4WD is no longer functional. If it fails at start up, all the same systems are effected in addition you cannot drive the vehicle over 30mph, it will accelerate on its own, it…
Seat belts
3 complaints · 11%Takata recall passengers side air bag blow up and never came out seat belt wont work car was not in a collision or hit just went off as driving on road mb will not see truck to fix it tried 4 times to make them see it nasty people sad so sad
Mercedes benz refuses for over a year to fix my airbags passenger seat airbag deployed with no accident. Just driving about 25 miles an hour it employed at of now nowhere but airbag didn't come out
Electrical
3 complaints · 11%07/20/2016 buy day new van at sun motors benz dialer mechanicsburg pa-price 47k 09/20/2016 problem with transmission 02/07/2019 problem with transmission and DPF/doc cat (van is totally demerge after only two years)
Rv transfer switch caught fire while sleeping. 5100 series transfer switch. Consumer stated didn't know why it happened but could of been the vibration which may have loosen the screws.
Engine
3 complaints · 11%07/20/2016 buy day new van at sun motors benz dialer mechanicsburg pa-price 47k 09/20/2016 problem with transmission 02/07/2019 problem with transmission and DPF/doc cat (van is totally demerge after only two years)
Body and structure
3 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: body.
Steering
3 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 recalls
Steering: hose, piping, and connections
Risk: The sudden loss of power steering assist and hydraulic steering fluid leaking onto the roadway may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and dealers will check the return line connections of the power steering system, correcting it as needed, free of charge. The recall began december 23, 2020. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Dvusa's number for this campaign is nv3letulpe.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain 2015-2020 mercedes benz sprinter and freightliner sprinter vehicles. The hydraulic power steering return line hoses may detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, causing hydraulic fluid to leak.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall is began march 15, 2019. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain 2015-2017 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 driver frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began march 15, 2019. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain 2014-2017 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.
Equipment: labels
Risk: The incorrect uvw label can result in final stage manufacturers exceeding the maximum vehicle weight once the vehicle is completed. A vehicle that exceeds its maximum weight has an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the uvw label and inspect the vehicle to make sure that it is not overloaded, free of charge. The recall began on april 3, 2018. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain 2016-2017 mercedes-benz sprinter 2500 and sprinter 3500 vehicles, equipped with folding seats (sales code s20). The unloaded vehicle weight (uvw) label on these incomplete vehicles may be incorrect.
Equipment
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Midwest will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fire extinguisher with a different brand, free of charge. The recall began on december 11, 2017. Owners may contact kidde customer service for their replacement extinguisher at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "product safety recall" for more information.
Full defect summary
Midwest automotive designs, llc (midwest) is recalling certain custom vans and camper van recreational vehicles built on 2014-2017 mercedes benz sprinter chassis and 2016-2017 ram promaster chassis. These vehicles are equipped with kidde plastic-handle or push button 'pindicator' fire extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2017/rmisc-17e062-5427.pdf
Equipment: labels
Risk: If the load capacity information is incorrect on the label, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and dealers will check the label and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on december 15, 2017. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain 2016 mercedes-benz sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The label on the b-pillar may state a higher maximum vehicle load capacity than the vehicle is designed for. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 cfr part 567, "certification."
Transmission: driveshaft
Risk: A loose driveshaft may strike and puncture the gas tank, resulting in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and dealers will install the missing catch strap for the driveshaft, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on november 17, 2017. The recall began on december 21, 2017. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain 2016 mercedes-benz sprinter 2500/3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles were manufactured without a driveshaft catch strap, allowing a loose driveshaft to strike the fuel tank.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Operating the vehicle with low front tire pressures may result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, freightliner sprinter and mercedes-benz dealers will check and replace the tire label, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on august 5, 2017. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain 2016 mercedes-benz and freightliner sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with reinforced front axles. The affected vehicles have tire labels on the b-pillar that list a tire pressure that is too low.
Transmission: driveshaft
Risk: If the event of a crash, the bracket may detach and the drive shaft may damage the fuel system, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners and dealers will install three additional rivets to secure the bracket, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on may 5, 2017. The recall began on july 7, 2017. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain 2016 mercedes-benz sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles and freightliner sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The bracket for the center support bearing of the drive shaft may not have been properly welded.
Air bags
Risk: If additional air bags do not deploy as intended, the occupants are at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: anchorage
Risk: If the seat moves in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would be at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Midwest will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left slide track, free of charge. The recall began on december 22, 2016. Owners may contact midwest customer service at 1-574-522-4878.
Full defect summary
Midwest automotive designs, llc (midwest) is recalling certain model year 2016 mercedes benz sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured july 1, 2016, to september 30, 2016, equipped with certain left side seat adjusters, model number 486077 manufactured by atwood. The affected seat adjusters may allow the seats to move in the event of a crash. As such, these adjusters fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages", and 207 "seating systems."
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk: If the bolts were not properly tightened, the seat belt may fail to secure the seat occupant in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and sprinter dealers will inspect the connecting bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on november 18, 2016. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain model year 2016 mercedes-benz and freightliner sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured march 1, 2016, to may 31, 2016. The bolts connecting the lower seat belt connection to the rear bench seat may not have been properly tightened.
Body and structure: roof and pillars
Risk: If the required crash pads are missing, it can increase the risk of injury to a front passenger seat occupant if they are unbelted.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and dealers will install the required crash-pads, free of charge. The recall began on august 11, 2016. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 mercedes-benz sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured may 31, 2015, to april 30, 2016, and 2015-2016 freightliner sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured may 1, 2015, to april 30, 2016. The affected vehicles are configured to have super-high roofs, but may not be equipped with the required crash pads.
Body and structure: body
Risk: If the windows separate from the vehicle in a crash, the occupants are at a greater risk of injury.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and dealers will remove the windows and inspect the paintwork, repainting the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. This recall began august 4, 2016. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-770-705-2070.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 mercedes benz and freightliner sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured april 1, 2015, to october 31, 2015. The affected vehicles may have had multiple layers of paint applied, and as a result, in a crash, the windows may separate from the vehicle when the outer layer of paint peels from the layer below.
Equipment: labels
Risk: The vehicle may be overloaded if loaded to the incorrect weight shown on the label, possibly resulting in axle or tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dvusa will notify owners, and mercedes-benz and freightliner dealers will replace the incorrect tire pressure label, free of charge. The recall began march 2016. Owners may contact dvusa customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Full defect summary
Daimler vans USA, llc (dvusa) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 mercedes-benz and freightliner sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans manufactured april 29, 2015, to december 15, 2015. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure label that incorrectly states a higher maximum load capacity than the vehicle is designed for.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Rear wheel speed sensor failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) analyzed complaint data provided by daimler vans USA, llc (daimler) as well as complaints submitted to odi from consumers to identify incidents related to rear wheel speed sensors (rwss) failures. Odi's analysis identified 6,710 incidents of rwss failure (unique vins) in my 2012-2018 mercedes- benz and freightliner sprinter vehicles upfitted to campers or recreational vehicles (rvs) representing 81 percent of all sprinter rwss reports. Complaint and warranty analysis indicated that the majority of incidents (approximately 99%) were related to rwss moisture intrusion condition in the sprinter 3500 5-ton variant, which accounts for 98 percent of upfit
Questions about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (9 complaints); speed control (5 complaints); brakes (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 have?
- 15 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 28, 2020 (steering). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500?
- It is 5th of 18 Sprinter 2500 model years by number of complaints, with 28 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.