Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Complaints (2012)

27 consumer complaints on file.

#11760939August 31, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11512377March 17, 2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that on various occasions after coming to a stop at a traffic signal, the vehicle was stalling and shaking while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the engine revved loudly before accelerating. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer on various occasions; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to several unknown dealers for routine maintenance services, and the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 16,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11477365August 3, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Wheel speed sensor malfunction, partially addressed in NHTSA recall ID: 21V042 Why only rear speed sensors? As of Aug. 2, 2022, I am facing the replacement of both front speed sensors one of which was replaced a year ago. No ABS braking, No stability control, faulty parts creating on going safety problems not addressed in recall 21V042.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11428883August 12, 2021
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE
Had a service call to repair recall items. Technician forgot to install bolts holding the transmission which led to multiple light alerts. Could have been dangerous for driver.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422658June 28, 2021
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11416594May 14, 2021
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11416600May 14, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403923March 19, 2021
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11395895February 12, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11395332February 9, 2021
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#11382947December 10, 2020
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11373656November 8, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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'.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11366929October 28, 2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, WHEELS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365784October 22, 2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11363990October 12, 2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, WHEELS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11300778January 21, 2020
AIR BAGS
WE GOT A NOTICE ABOUT RECALLS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11206958May 11, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11187145March 15, 2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VAN WILL AT TIMES ACCELERATE ON IT OWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151256November 13, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CHECK ENGINE AND DEF LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I CAN ONLY PUT A QUART OF DEF IN TANK ONLY HAVE 23000 MILES ON ENGINE. LIGHT CLEARS AFTER ADDING ONLY A QUART AND RESTATRTING AND DRIVING. THEN RETURNS IN A SHORT WHILE. SHOULDNT THIS BE COVERED UNDER THE EMISSION WTTY. YEAR 2012 MERCEDES SPRINTER 3500
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11143229October 26, 2018
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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