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Mercedes Benz · NHTSA safety record

2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

38

Complaints

1

Crashes

4

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 have filed 38 safety complaints with NHTSA between August 2014 and July 2025. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 15 of them (39%). The typical failure was reported at 50,000 miles, the median across the 19 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V004000 · January 8, 2019

The defect
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.
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. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

Daimler Vans USA, LLC · up to 88,388 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT

17V786000 · December 8, 2017

The defect
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
The risk
In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
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.

Midwest Automotive Designs, LLC · up to 550 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

17V093000 · February 10, 2017

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

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

16V077000 · February 10, 2016

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

14V764000 · December 1, 2014

The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC - DBA Sprinter (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Sprinter 2500, and Sprinter 3500 vehicles manufactured February 28, 2014, to November 21, 2014. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from around the chain tensioner gasket area.
The risk
Leaking oil may drip onto a hot engine surface, increasing the risk of a fire. Additionally, the leaking oil may be a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chain tensioner gasket, free of charge. The recall began on December 19, 2014. Owners may contact Mercedes customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Mercedes' number for this recall is 2014120003.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC - DBA Sprinter · up to 8,279 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE

14V677000 · October 28, 2014

The defect
Morgan Olson Corporation (Morgan Olson) is recalling certain model year 2014 Sprinter 2500 vehicles manufactured May 30, 2014, to August 1, 2014. The affected vehicles may have an aluminum document holder installed in the cab side of the load area partition that an unbelted occupant may strike in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."
The risk
If the vehicle is involved in a crash, an unbelted occupant may strike the document holder, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy
Morgan Olson will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the document holder, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2014. Owners may contact Morgan Olson customer service at 1-800-262-3437.

Morgan Olson Corporation · up to 100 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure

PE20014

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

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 38.

AIR BAGS 15 39%
ENGINE 8 21%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 8%
POWER TRAIN 2 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 3%
STRUCTURE 1 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2018 at 10.

2014 2018 2025
2014 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE

fire · towed · 200,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated while driving at 35-40 MPH, he saw smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated as he veered to the side of the road, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that they were unable to diagnose the vehicle. Then the vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA complaint 11437380. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · towed · 131,000 miles

The contact owned a 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud pop was heard, and noticed there was smoke coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was a Sprinter van driver. The contact pulled the vehicle over and had the passengers located in the vehicle exit the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was not filed, however, the cause for the failure was not yet determined. A police report was not filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The dealer was not

NHTSA complaint 11629637, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

fire · 8,000 miles

THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VAN WHILE STILL AT THE DEALER A WARNING CHIME CAME ON AND NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG THEN IT FINALLY WENT AWAY BY ITSELF. THAT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT LAST AUGUST. I TOOK IT TO TWO MERCEDES DEALERS BUT NO USE. I ALSO EXPERIENCED A DRASTIC DROP IN FUEL MILEAGE IT SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM AROUND 19 TO 13.5 MPG AT THAT TIME I NOTICED GRINDING NOISE ALL THAT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. ON 2/27/2015 AT 2:15 AM A LOUD KNOCK ON THE DOOR WOKE US UP THE PERSON WAS AN UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER THAT HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING BY TOLD US TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE VAN IN THE DRIVEWAY WAS ON FIRE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED THE WHOLE VAN

NHTSA complaint 10695197, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 119,670 miles

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 5 MILES, PARKED AND NOT RUNNING, ABOUT 2.5HRS LATER FIRE STARTED ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE / UNDERCARRIAGE. FUEL TANK CAUGHT FIRE. NO PRIOR RUNNING DEFECTS. STARTING POINT FOR THE FIRE APPEARS AT OR NEXT TO FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT SIDE WITH THE FIRST FLAMES VISIBLE UP THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HOUSING WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND THIS ETCHED IN AN ARC SHAPE ABOVE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. INSIDE VEHICLE NO PERSONAL ITEMS OR AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS. FIRE SPOTTED APPROXIMATELY 3:15 - 3:17 EASTERN TIME, WEATHER TEMPS IN MID 70S. THIS WAS A HIGH TOP 12 PASSENGER MODEL 144" WHEELBASE WITH AUXILIARY AIR AND HEAT OPTIONS. NO OCCUPANTS AND NO INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint 11355724. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

223,000 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 70,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 223,000.

NHTSA complaint 11673305. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The van won’t throttle when requested and will lose power going uphill. I can set the cruise at 70 but the van will only accelerate to 55 to 65. When going uphill it will drop all the way to 45 mph with no ability to accelerate. Mercedes in Missoula has looked at it and said it’s the way the new update “fixed” the limp mode and there is nothing wrong with it. Our personal mechanic has also concluded there is nothing wrong. We live in rural Montana and this is our main vehicle as we have a large family. It’s extremely scary to have a semi come screaming up behind you and not having anywhere to go.

NHTSA complaint 11526466. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 177,000 miles

The contact 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power while driving approximately 65 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle veered to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was able to be restarted; however, while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ECU computer needed to be replaced. On another occasion, while driving approximately 45 MPH, and the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle did not accelerate as designed. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a whooshing sound coming from the

NHTSA complaint 11519224, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Ever since I bought the vehicle, I have had to take it in usually multiple times a year to the dealership. Because water randomly dumps into the vehicle on the passengers from the roof AC unit.! On one occasion going down the highway at night it dumped water on a newborn baby in a car seat causing us to pull off onto the side of the highway at night in an emergency fashion. It has been into the dealership countless times for the same problem and has supposedly been fixed every time. but it has never truly been fixed and it’s still a problem. I am currently being told to just keep bringing it in every time it happens or year. The water then started seeping through the cracks in the air

NHTSA complaint 11507038, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Just at roughly 100,000 miles under-body brake lines rusted out at started leaking making the vehicle inoperable and unsafe to drive.

NHTSA complaint 11477902. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 12 4
2023 17 7
2022 39 7
2021 45 18
2020 80 22
2019 67 42
2018 14 9
2017 13 7
2016 28 15
2015 23 14
2013 21 3
2012 8 2
2011 14 4
2010 14 6

Other 2014 Mercedes Benz models

Every Mercedes Benz on this site — 216 vehicles, 576 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst