2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems, complaints & recalls

2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 recalls (9)

• Recall 21V042000Feb 3, 202148,667 vehicles
  ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE

  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.

• Recall 20V663000Oct 28, 202047,667 vehicles
  STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

  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.

  Risk: The sudden loss of power steering assist and hydraulic steering fluid leaking onto the roadway may increase the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 19V003000Jan 8, 201971,301 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  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.

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

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 19V004000Jan 8, 201988,388 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  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.

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

  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.

• Recall 18V288000May 3, 2018153 vehicles
  STRUCTURE:BODY

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles may be missing spot welds on the front side wall, connecting the door portal to the hinge reinforcements in the A-pillar area, possibly affecting vehicle strength in a crash.

  Risk: If the missing welds affect body strength, there may be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

  Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and add any missing spot welds, free of charge. The recall began on July 2, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

• Recall 18V113000Feb 15, 201817 vehicles
  EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

  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.

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 17V804000Dec 14, 20172,177 vehicles
  LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles equipped with the Crosswind Assist function. In the event of strong crosswind, automatic brake interventions by the vehicle dynamics control system (ADAPTIVE ESP) might not be activated.

  Risk: If Crosswind Assist system does not activate the automatic braking system as expected in the event of a strong crosswind, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

  Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the ESP control unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-854-888-3214.

• Recall 17V786000Dec 8, 2017550 vehicles
  EQUIPMENT

  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

  Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

  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.

• Recall 17V742000Nov 21, 2017773 vehicles
  TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans. The spare tire holder under the vehicle may not be properly secured.

  Risk: If the spare tire holder is not properly secured, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners and dealers will lift the spare tire holder completely and tighten the securing screws as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact DVUSA custom service at 1-854-888-3214.

NHTSA defect investigations

• EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open

  Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  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.C…

• PE20014Opened Sep 21, 2020Closed Mar 30, 2021led to recall 21V042000

  Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure

  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 mois…

Recent 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Aug 20, 202615,000 miNMWheels & Tires

   The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's side tire became deflated. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the front driver's side rim was cracked. The contact was informed that the front driver's side rim needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the…

   NHTSA complaint #11758341 · source
2. Filed Dec 23, 2024325,000 miVAFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz M3CA76 Sprinter 3500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the diesel purifier, Diesel Exhaust Fluid, DEF system, warning illuminated. The contact stated that the failure of the DEF system had occurred before the recent failure. The contact stated that the first failure had occurred several years ago. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the DEF…

   NHTSA complaint #11632139 · source
3. Filed Dec 19, 202444,000 miDEFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes- Benz Sprinter 350. The contact stated that while driving at various highway speeds the warning message "DEF Is Low" had suddenly displayed and the vehicle went into "Limp Mode" causing the speed to suddenly reduce to 5 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the DEF tank was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no…

   NHTSA complaint #11631555 · source
4. Filed Aug 25, 202349,500 miNJBody & Structure

   The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, he had to brake abruptly, due to an animal crossing the roadway. Then he heard a loud sound coming from underneath the vehicle, when he took his foot off the brake. . The contact pulled over to the side of the road and saw the water tank had fallen to the ground. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the water tank was firmly re-attached to the RV. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11540773 · source
5. Filed Aug 21, 2023CABrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The ESP and ABS warning lights went on suddenly after what sounded like a thud. The car had not run over anything. There was some initial brief chattering of the break pedal, and that subsided. The car was not near a suitable and available repair shop at the time. It was driven to complete a trip. There were several instances of break pedal chattering that led concern about the controllability of the vehicle. During the trip, it was taken to a brake shop, and the technicians…

   NHTSA complaint #11539850 · source
6. Filed Jul 3, 2023OROther / Unknown

   The front left wheel cover shifted and nearly sheared off the tire valve stem. Had this happened while we were on the road, the tire would have had a very fast deflate/explosion. This would have put the 24ft. RV into an uncontrollable nose-dive and possible crash situation. The nearly-sheared valve stem was discovered by technicians while we were having routine maintenance done at the authorized Mercedes dealership. They removed the tire and replaced the valve stem. We were…

   NHTSA complaint #11530098 · source
7. Filed Jun 28, 2023TXBrakesAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I'm getting wheel sensor errors and the vehicle goes into limp mode and disables the cruise control, even after replacing the sensors. Very frustrated with this dangerous situation!

   NHTSA complaint #11529306 · source
8. Filed May 23, 202326,000 miFLWheels & Tires

   The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that on two separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle started shaking and the contact heard a loud sound coming from the vehicle. The contact veered off the roadway and noticed that the hub cap had detached from the wheel. The contact stated that he was not aware that the inside tire had deflated. The contact then stated that he removed the hubcap from the road and continued…

   NHTSA complaint #11523447 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology