2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems, complaints & recalls

2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 recalls (16)

• Recall 24V930000Dec 13, 2024697 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster illumination may not be adjustable and appear too bright in certain lighting conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."

  Risk: A display that is too bright can make it difficult for the driver to see critical safety information, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2025. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3BELKOM.

• Recall 23V875000Dec 21, 20233,739 vehicles
  STRUCTURE:CRITICAL FASTENERS

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The longitudinal frame members may be missing reinforcement fasteners, reducing vehicle stability and decreasing the structural integrity of the third-row seats.

  Risk: Reduced stability increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, the third-row seat mountings can fail, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the frame members as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 4, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3ROHRAH.

• Recall 23V876000Dec 21, 2023387 vehicles
  STRUCTURE:CRITICAL FASTENERS

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The partition wall may be missing bolts, allowing the wall to detach during a crash.

  Risk: A detached partition wall can increase the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure the partition wall as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 16, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3TREWAN.

• Recall 23V806000Dec 1, 2023131 vehicles
  STRUCTURE:BODY

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The topcoat paint formula may cause the windows and interior lashing rails to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle.

  Risk: An insufficiently bonded window can detach during a crash, and objects secured to an insufficiently bonded interior lashing rail can detach, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect the paint adhesion and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Depending on the extent of any damage, DVUSA may offer to repurchase the vehicle. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 5, 2024. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3LACKHA.

• Recall 23V204000Mar 24, 20236,857 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.

  Risk: A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3KOMBAUS.

• Recall 22V796000Oct 21, 2022124,305 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:PARK PAWL

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with a manual parking brake and 7-speed automatic transmission. The guide bushing on the parking pawl may fatigue, which can cause the parking pawl not to engage and result in vehicle rollaway.

  Risk: Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the software of the electronic stability, transmission control, direct select module, and electronic ignition switch control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's numbers for this recall are 22V2790611, 22V2790612, and 22V2790613.

• Recall 22V360000May 20, 202219,937 vehicles
  COMMUNICATION: AUTO CRASH NOTIFICATION · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Metris, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

  Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update, or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2SIMKOM/VS3SIMKOM.

• Recall 22V281000Apr 27, 202212,086 vehicles
  BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

  Risk: An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3KOMRUE.

• Recall 22V131000Mar 8, 20222,153 vehicles
  SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC. (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The shim on the torsion bar was installed incorrectly during assembly.

  Risk: An incorrectly assembled torsion bar may fail at the connection between the torsion bar and linkage, resulting in a loss of vehicle stability, and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will correct the position of the shim and replace the torsion bar linkages, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3VADREH.

• Recall 22V073000Feb 9, 20222,564 vehicles
  EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) may be improperly stated on the tire and loading label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."

  Risk: The operator may overload the vehicle, resulting in excessive tire wear and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace, as necessary, the tire and loading information label. Additionally, tires will be inspected for excessive wear and replaced as necessary. All repairs will be conducted free of charge. Interim owner notifications were mailed to owners on March 4, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 21, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3RE58HIN.

• Recall 21V934000Dec 1, 202130 vehicles
  STRUCTURE

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The spring-loaded rear step bolt fasteners were not properly tightened.

  Risk: Loose bolt fasteners may allow the rear step to separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will tighten the bolt fasteners and replace the console and attaching hardware, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed February 11, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3HECKTRI.

• Recall 21V933000Dec 1, 202198 vehicles
  SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · STRUCTURE:BODY

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The front axle fender liner and brake hose may be too close, allowing the fender liner to contact and damage the brake hose.

  Risk: A damaged brake hose may leak brake fluid, extending the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect the condition and clearance of the brake hose, modify the fender liner trim, and replace the brake hose as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3BAURAVE.

• Recall 21V779000Oct 6, 202138 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. A cable duct may drop out of place due to unlatched engagement hooks inside the battery case. This may cause the starter-generator wiring harness to chafe against the transmission carrier, which could result in an electrical short-circuit.

  Risk: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the engagement hooks on the affected cable duct with expanding rivets, free of charge. The recall began on November 2, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA's customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3KABKAN.

• Recall 21V513000Jul 7, 20211,514 vehicles
  SEAT BELTS · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR · SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Metris, and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) seat belt assemblies. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

  Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 21, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA's customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

• Recall 21V410000Jun 2, 20214,078 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL:CUSHION · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling 2019-2021 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with swivel seats. The wiring harnesses for the front seats may have been routed incorrectly and could become jammed and damaged in the swivel seat frames.

  Risk: Damage to the wiring harness can prevent the side air bag within the seat to deploy inadvertently or not deploy as designed, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Dealers will attach the mounting clip to the correct position, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 11, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3DREHSEL.

• Recall 21V411000Jun 2, 202133,437 vehicles
  BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

  Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

  Risk: A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

  Remedy: The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on July 23, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3UXPOBOX.

Recent 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 complaints

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

1. Filed Mar 13, 20268,000 miCAAirbags

   The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Driver’s Side Air Bag Deactivated” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the wiring harness needed to be rewired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted, and the message was displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a voltage issue;…

   NHTSA complaint #11724098 · source
2. Filed May 12, 2025NEBrakes

   Mercedes Dealership is refusing to get the vehicle in to make this safety recall repair in a timely manner. I have been told that i will need to wait for over a month just to drop the vehicle off with no time frame given in terms of how long the vehicle will be gone while being repaired.

   NHTSA complaint #11660365 · source
3. Filed Mar 30, 2025MNBrakesOther / UnknownSteering

   I am writing to formally raise a critical safety concern regarding the performance and behavior of the Crosswind Assist system in my 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500, upfitted by Airstream as a B-Class RV. This vehicle, identified by VIN [XXX] , exhibited behavior that I believe constitutes a significant and potentially dangerous flaw in its integrated driver-assistance programming. During a westbound trip from Minnesota to Nevada—traversing high-wind corridors in South…

   NHTSA complaint #11651549 · source
4. Filed Nov 14, 2024CAOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   My van has periodic lack of acceleration or dead pedal. There are no warnings that this will occur. This shows itself when trying to advance from a stopped position. When I push the accelerator the van either does not move at all or barely crawls forward. This can last 15-45 seconds. There are no RPMs from the engine. Once the pedal starts to respond, the issue will resolve. The problem is you need to get to that point where the engine can make rated power. Once you put in…

   NHTSA complaint #11625256 · source
5. Filed Jan 12, 2023MICrashBrakes

   I started my Sprinter, which was converted into a Grech RV, and while still in park a few seconds later, the vehicle started to move. Before I could hop back in the driver's seat to stop the vehicle, it crashed into my garage overhang and significantly damaged my Sprinter's back doors and back structure. How it started to move was a complete mystery to me as it was in park and I had just started the vehicle a few seconds prior. While doing some research, I saw an article in…

   NHTSA complaint #11501434 · source
6. Filed Jul 30, 2022TNSuspension

   My vehicle is listed as one of the 2100+ sprinter vans affected by the incorrect assembly of the torsion bar(Manufacturer Recall Number [phone removed]; NHTSA Recall Number 22V131). This recall was issued on March 17, 2022. It has now been over 120 days since that recall was issued and the parts are not yet available. I believe the manufacturer has exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

   NHTSA complaint #11476667 · source
7. Filed Jul 25, 2022MISuspension

   The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes- Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V131000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

   NHTSA complaint #11475770 · source
8. Filed Apr 26, 2022AZSuspension

   The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V131000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were 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…

   NHTSA complaint #11462265 · 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