Model year record

2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 recalls & problems

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 has 4 safety recalls and 14 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (4 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints14filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsJul 28, 2017

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 17V47900020,665 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Freightliner and Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled into 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 rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The began on January 12, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-379.

Air bagsFeb 10, 2016

Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Recall 16V077000136,361 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.

Seat beltsMar 30, 2011

Seat belts

Recall 11V2100003,437 vehicles

Problem: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 2500 AND 3500 SPRINTER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THREE-SEAT BENCH IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE SEAT BENCHES IN THE SECOND SEATING ROW MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELTS THAT DO NOT MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT," AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." FIRST, THOSE SAFETY BELTS MAY NOT LOCK AS REQUIRED. SECOND, THE ASSEMBLY LOOP MAY NOT PERFORM TO MINIMUM FORCE REQUIREMENTS.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SAFETY BELTS IN THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT PERFORM AS REQUIRED SUCH THAT A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Fix: MERCEDES-BENZ WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 843-695-5000.

EquipmentDec 21, 2010

Equipment

Recall 10V642000274 vehicles

Problem: SPRINTER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 FREIGHTLINER 2500 SPRINTER AND MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW. THE ADHESIVE BOND BETWEEN THE GLASS AND THE HINGE ON THE TOP OF THE WINDOW MAY LOOSEN.
Risk: THE EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW MAY SEPARATE FROM THE BODY AND COULD FALL INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPRINTER AT 1-201-573-0600.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 VAN RWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Cargo Van VAN RWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 P12 VAN RWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	84.3%

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Air bags	4	—
Unknown or other	3	7,500 mi
Engine	2	—
Electrical system	2	—
Structure	2	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	—
WheelsLugs/nuts/bolts/studs	1	—
Power train	1	—
Fuel/propulsion system	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
TAKATA RECALL: HAVE BEEN RECEIVING RECALL NOTICES ABOUT YEARS (FIRST RECALL APRIL 2016). MADE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS TO REPLACE, BUT THEY WERE OUT WHEN I ARRIVED. CURRENTLY I'VE HAD AN AIR BAG ON ORDER TO BE HELD IN MY NAME SINCE JUNE 2018. STILL NO SUCCESS.
Apr 30, 2016 · 2,000 miles
Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF MASSAPEQUA, 101 EAST SUNRISE HIGHWAY, AMITYVILLE, NY 11701 (631) 213-2023) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Oct 12, 2017
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE SRS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF BROOKLYN, LOCATED AT 1800 SHORE PKWY BROOKLYN, NY 11214) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ETHER ELEMENT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,097.
Mar 19, 2017 · 42,097 miles
Air bags
IT IS HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND WE BELIEVE THAT WAITING FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR IS TOO LONG.
Apr 1, 2017
Unknown or other
ROOF MOUNTED A/C LEAKS WATER INSIDE THE VAN EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THIS IS MY SECOND SPRINTER WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND IT AFFECTS MY BUSINESS TREMENDOUSLY AS I OWN AN EXECUTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, NOT THE TYPE OF PROBLEM EXPECTED ON A MERCEDES
Aug 10, 2015 · 7,500 miles
Unknown or other
MY SPRINTER IS A VERY LOW MILEAGE SPRINTER, I JUST RECENTLY PASSED THE 6,000 MILES ( IT IS A 2011 MODEL) THE CAR HAS BEEN INCORPORATED IN MY COMPANY'S FLEET. I OWN AN EXECUTIVE GROUND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, RECENTLY ON A LOCAL TRIP TRANSPORTING SOME EXECUTIVE PASSENGERS, IT STARTED TO RAIN HEAVILY AND WATER STARTED TO POUR INSIDE THE REAR SECTION OF THE VAN JUST WHERE THE PASSENGERS WERE SEATING! THE WATER WAS COMING DOWN THRU THE A/C VENTS!! THIS IS TERRIBLE. I LOOKED EVERYWHERE ONLY AND IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE SPRINTERS, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IS NOT A RECALL, ALSO THERE IS A MAJOR LAWSUIT GOING ON IN CALIFORNIA.
Jul 17, 2015 · 6,500 miles
Unknown or other
AS A HIGH USE BUSINESS VEHICLE, MY MERCEDES SPRINTER 2500 WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (36K MILES) WITHIN A YEAR OF PURCHASE. JUST ABOUT A MONTH BEYOND 36K, THE ROOF MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN LEAKING (MORE LIKE TORRENTING) WATER UPON THE MIDDLE BENCH SEATS AFTER EVERY RAIN. THIS WATER HAS ALSO LEAKED DOWN INTO THE FRONT ROOF MOUNTED ELECTRONICS, SUCH AS THE DOME LIGHTS, AND MADE THEM MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS ESSENTIALLY USELESS FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS TRANSPORT DURING ANY RAIN STORM. WHEN CONTACTED, AFTER MUCH RUN AROUND AND BROKEN PROMISE, THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT BECAUSE WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY, THE REPAIR WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $1800. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE MUCH…
May 1, 2013 · 40,000 miles
Power train
WE MOVED TO HIGH ALTITUDE (6750 FT ELEVATION). FROM A STOP IT TAKES OVER THREE SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO HAVE PROPER POWER TO ACCELERATE. IT WILL START TO ROLL, BUT NO REAL POWER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ (WALTER'S MERCEDES OF RIVERSIDE, CA) DEALER THREE TIMES. THEY REFUSE TO TEST IT AT ALTITUDE AND SAY THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT SEA LEVEL (OF COURSE NOT). IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN'T PULL OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY BY MYSELF WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING HIT BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE. *TR
Jun 25, 2014 · 42,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
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.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor FailureClosedLed to recall 21V042000
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…
PE20014 · opened Sep 21, 2020 · closed Mar 30, 2021