2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500

The defect

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.

The risk

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

The 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.

Daimler Vans USA, LLC · up to 17,413 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

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.

The risk

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

The 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.

Daimler Vans USA, LLC · up to 15,338 vehicles across all model years covered

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Daimler Vans USA, LLC · up to 136,361 vehicles across all model years covered

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened September 21, 2020 · closed March 30, 2021 · led to recall 21V042000

the air brakes, the hydraulic brakes

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 campers, where moisture build-up and crystal dendrite formation develop in parked RVs and lead to sensor failures. According to the Daimler Information Request (IR) response, if the wheel speed information is detected as implausible by the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) control unit, the ESP system enters a failsafe mode where:-Driver torque requests are no longer accepted;-Cruise control, if used, would be deactivated; -The ESP/ABS system shuts off; and -Multiple warning lamps and messages advise the operator to take the vehicle to the workshop. While the majority of reports involved only ABS and/or ESP warning lights and messages on the instrument cluster due to faulty sensor signals triggering a failsafe mode, some reports cited intermittent sensor failures resulting in increased vehicle speed while in cruise control and degraded ABS or ESP. Degraded ESP functionality may impact driving stability of the 5-ton vehicle.On Feb 3, 2021, following discussion with ODI, Daimler submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a defect in the RWSS disabling the ESP control unit functions in approximately 48,667 MY 2012 through 2018 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles manufactured from Jan 4, 2012 through Oct 25, 2018 (Recall 21V-042). In its DIR, Daimler indicated that RWSS sensor failures are prevalent in camper vans due to sustained periods of non-use, during which time the moisture may not dry out, remaining inside the plastic housing package. If the moisture within the RWSS dries and the RWSS returns to normal operation, the failsafe mode and the warning lights will disappear at the next ignition cycle, but the sensor fault remains stored within the ESP control unit and can be accessed through a diagnostic evaluation. ODI will continue to monitor field experience in Sprinter non-RVs and Sprinter 2500 RVs 3-ton and 3.5-ton variants (approximately 626 vehicles).Daimler will notify owners of the recalled vehicles and advise them to take their vehicle to a Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner Sprinter dealer, who will replace the RWSS with a repackaged sensor with high robustness against moisture intrusion. Daimler began notifying dealers and owners in Feb 2021. This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ID numbers:11352380 11351299 11350521 11348969 11342776 11342464 11341988 11341151 11340388 11338230 11337921 11331832 11331829 11331476 11331427 11331066 11328671 11325768 11325693 11322814 11322346 11320295 11319376 11317336 11311647 11310621 11308318 11254223 11253828 11252220 11196530 11194330 11164250 11145019 11141273 11139000 11138785 11124129 11094122 11394837 11390889 11390039 11389262 11387883 11387713 11386418 11383887 11383866 11382947 11377384 11376615 11376973 11375781 11375403 11374997 11374151 11373892 11373111 11366293 11365920 11365594 11365355 11365194 11364253 11364346 11363990 11363787 11362948 113629

towed · 29,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF RENO (11500 S VIRGINIA ST, RENO, NV 89511, (855) 661-9151) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER CHECKING THE OIL AND OIL FILTER, THE ENGINE FROZE WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A LACK OF OIL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING THE VEHICLE NEEDED OIL. THE VEHICLE ALSO LACKS ENOUGH POWER TO REVERSE UP AN INCLINE, SUCH AS A …

NHTSA complaint 11206848, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The right rear axle shaft assembly wheel bearing seal failed. The right rear ABS Sensor, aka (rotational Speed Sensor, wheel speed sensor) failed. These parts are available for inspection. The vehicle unexpectedly accelerated without me pressing the accelerator as I approached a red light at an intersection, putting my safety and others at risk. I had to slam on the brakes with all my might to get the vehicle to stop from going through the intersection. The road was wet, and the front wheels locked while the rear wheels continued to be driven by the engine without any input from the accelerator pedal. Eventually, the vehicle stopped, and the engine acceleration went back to normal …

NHTSA complaint 11666918, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

180,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking engine oil with the oil warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN regarding the issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA complaint 11554053. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The electronic steering lock "jams". The only way to get the ignition to turn is to jack up the front tires to release the pressure on the wheels and jiggle the steering wheel while trying to start the car. Even doing this isn't instantaneous. Sometimes you have to physically wiggle the tires left/right while jiggling the wheel. This is well documented on Youtube/other internet sites. This has happened at least 6 or more times and has been taken into the Sprinter Dealer for repair. They couldn't replicate the issue and therefore did nothing.

NHTSA complaint 11501311. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

33,500 miles

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 65 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OFF AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING ABS AND 2 OTHER NEXT THAT ONE LOOKING LIKE A SWERVE CONTROL OR SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITION AND ANOTHER TIRE LOOKING LIGHT. NOT SURE OF OTHER TWO LIGHT AS THIS WAS MY FIRST DRIVE IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH I HAD DRIVEN AROUND 800 MILES THIS DAY. I PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD AS I WAS IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION ON A STEEP HILL. UPON RESTART IT STARTED TO REV THEN BRAKE MULTIPLE TIMES CAUSING GREAT DANGER IN MY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO NEXT SIDE EXIT AND SHIP OFF. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY COLD NIGHT AND I HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint 11389718. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

132,977 miles

MERCEDES BENZ 2500 2013 V6 DIESEL. YELLOW ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE EBT YELLOW WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND ANOTHER WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THERE ARE 5 MORE ENGINE STARTS REMAINING AND IT WILL NOT START IF DRIVEN MORE THAN 340 MILES. BOTH THE ERG VALVE AND THE EBT TANK AND HEATER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. WE WERE DRIVING UNDER AN EVACUATION ALERT BECAUSE OF FIRE. SPEED WAS 45-50 MPH. THIS INCIDENT HAS PUT US IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WE ARE DEPENDENT IN THE SPRINTER FOR EVACUATION. THE DEALER IS 40 MILES AWAY AND CANNOT SERVICE THE SPRINTER UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER. LAST NIGHT WE READ ABOUT MERCEDES BENZ EPA SETTLEMENT BECAUSE OF A DEFEAT PROGRAM AND FAULTY EMISSION COMPONENTS. …

NHTSA complaint 11355406, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEN I TURN ON MY VEHICLE IT SHOWS LOW BEAM RIGHT LEFT I TAKE IT TO THE BENZ DEALER IN TAMPA THE PROBLEM THEY CAME UP WITH WATER INTRUSION IN BOTH FRONT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLE. HEAD LAMP UNIT FOUND CONDENSATION FORMING IN HEADLAMPS. THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AS NO REPAIR CAN BE PERFORMED TOTAL COST $4230.14. GOT INTOUCH WITH THE EXEC. REFERRAL MANAGER TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. I THINK THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL. I DON'T SEE WHY I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX PROBLEM THEIR SHOULD BE NO CONDENSATION AT ALL SO I LEFT WITH ONLY DRIVING MY VEHICLE DURING THE DAY I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHTS WITH NO LIGHT. YOUR EARLY ATTENTION TO MY PROBLEM WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. …

NHTSA complaint 11255765, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.