2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (12) · Vehicle Speed Control (4) · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Electronic Stability Control (Esc):control Module 2021-02-03 · campaign 21V042000 · 48,667 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-01-09 · campaign 18V032000 · 17,413 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2013 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 abs
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on March 13, 2018. The recall began December 28, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Air Bags 2017-02-10 · campaign 17V093000 · 15,338 vehicles
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.
Risk: If additional air bags do not deploy as intended, the occupants are at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-10 · campaign 16V077000 · 136,361 vehicles
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.
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.
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2014-11-05 · campaign 14V706000 · 34 vehicles
Defect: Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may cr
Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Fix: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.
Service bulletins (128)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-19 · LI82_85_N_080972_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
unavailability of mb apps complaint a popup is seen on the hu with the message "data connection temporarily not available". cause mb apps is officially sundowned for all vehicles with ntg5 head unit variant. remedy no support available for ntg5 head unit variants for mb app related topics.
Power Train 2026-08-26 · LI28_00-N-079097_1_en · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint while driving through muddy / sandy/ off road terrain "4matic currently unavailable" message on the dash cause this vehicle is not equipped with a fixed force distribution awd, rather force is only applied to the front axle according to esp calculations. as per gf28.00‑d‑ 9900a: "vehicles
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-01 · LI54_30-N-080701 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
assyst plus service reminder appears earlier than expected due to vehicle operating conditions complaint the assyst plus service reminder appears earlier than expected. the customer or dealer may report that the vehicle did not reach the starting maintenance interval shown in vehicle documentation
Power Train 2026-06-15 · LI14.20-N-073867 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint complaint a: the engine is jolting/bucking between 1700 and 1900 rpm. complaint b: one or more mechanical related fault codes for egr valve stored in cdi control unit, with possible check engine light. review list of mechanical fault codes in table below. note: if one or more electrical r
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-06-03 · LI49.10-N-080528 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
om642 dpf filter cracked or broken complaint vehicle will not start or exhibits noisy exhaust. check engine lamp (cel) is on. multiple control unit communication and system faults may be present, including but not limited to: 134800, 134900, 11b300, 11ec00, 15e100, 155700, 162500. additional event
Engine 2026-04-18 · LI4910-N-060969 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint rattling noise from underneath the vehicle. cause one or more of the following conditions may be present: 1. the exhaust bracket from the dpf to the transmission is cracked or broken. • see pic. 1 for an example of a broken bracket. 2. transmission bell housing cracked or broken at the exh
Showing the 6 most recent of 128 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-10-06 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid · 61,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 mercedes-benz sprinter 3500. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle became difficult to steer. the contact stated that she safely drove the vehicle to her residence. the contact stated that when she opened the hood, she discovered that the vehic…”
2021-05-12 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc)“tl* the contact owns a 2013 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 unavailable. the contact called mercedes-benz of reno (11500 s virginia st, reno, nv 89511, (855) 661-9151) and it was confirmed that the part was…”
2020-11-30 · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control“2013 mercedes benz sprinter. consumer writes in regards to abs system failure. *ld the consumer stated the wheel sensors failed multiple times, while driving. the cruise control would not disengage. the consumer requested to be reimbursed for the failed sensors. *js…”
2020-10-20 · Vehicle Speed Control · 64,890 mi“1 rear wheel speed sensors failed 2 years ago 2 rear wheel speed sensors failed two weeks ago.0…”
2020-10-14 · Vehicle Speed Control · 32,000 mi“wheel sensors failure causes loss of abs braking , cruise control and traction control. when this occurs causes the vehicle to go into limp mode and rapid reduction of speed. all of the above causes a hazardous situation on the freeway. we have had 2 fail and many of our friends have experienced cthe same.…”
2020-08-21 · Unknown Or Other · 45,000 mi“the awning attached to the van and manufactured by fiamma does not extend or retract correctly and breaks down every single time we have had it fixed. the motor has to be replaced each time which is money out of our pocket.…”
2020-07-29 · Vehicle Speed Control · 74,000 mi“i have had to change the speed sensor on the right back wheels 3 times. this affects electrical stability control of vehicle and abs system. it is unusual and expensive to be doing this. last time was april 2019. i have to take it in to the mercedes again to change it.…”
2020-06-30 · Service Brakes, Air:antilock:wheel Speed Sensor · 22,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 mercedes-benz sprinter 3500. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the passenger's side rear wheel speed sensor ceased to operate with the abs warning light, electronic stability program (esp) warning light and another unknown warning light illuminated. the contact initially took the motorhome to (mercedes-benz o…”
2020-04-27 · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control · 23,500 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 mercedes benz sprinter 3500. the contact stated while driving 65 mph and depressing the brake pedal, there was abnormal crunching noise detected. the abs warning light was illuminated and the cruise control was inoperable. the vehicle was taken to park place motorcars mercedes-benz fort worth (5601 bryant irvin rd, fo…”
2020-03-10 · Vehicle Speed Control · 27,800 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 mercedes-benz sprinter 3500. the contact stated that while making a right turn and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle loss motive power with several warning lights illuminated including; the abs, traction control, and the check engine warning lights. the contact was able to drive in limp mode to mercedes-benz …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.