NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
This page covers 18 recalls and 27 owner complaints for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500.
For the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500, the complaint set is small but spreads across several systems with no single dominant pattern. The airbag system draws the most reports, though the narratives are sparse on specific symptoms. Vehicle speed control complaints describe a recurring theme of the van losing power and struggling to maintain highway speeds, often accompanied by a check engine light and engine noise traced to intake issues. Steering complaints mention power steering fluid loss and pump cavitation, with owners noting the system still functions but feels compromised. A handful of other reports mention roof air conditioning seal failures that allow water to enter the cabin during rain, and at least two reports describe cracked alloy wheel rims causing slow air loss, both occurring at weld points between the center and outer rim.
27
Total Complaints
1
Fire-Related
By System
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 has 18 recalls, the most serious being airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, and a driveshaft that can break loose in a crash and puncture the fuel tank, raising the risk of fire.
Several other safety issues affect occupant protection. The airbag control unit on some vehicles is missing a reinforcement plate and protective bracket, which can prevent secondary airbags from deploying in a crash. Rear bench seat belt anchor bolts may not have been tightened to spec, allowing the belt to fail to hold a rear occupant in a collision. On certain custom van builds, a seat adjuster can allow the front seat to shift forward in a crash. Vehicles built with super-high roofs may be missing required crash pads, raising injury risk for an unbelted front passenger.
On the structural side, windows on some vehicles may separate from the body in a crash due to a paint layering issue. The hydraulic power steering return line hose can pull free from its fitting, causing a sudden loss of steering assist and spilling fluid on the road. Four recalls involve incorrect labels, covering tire pressure, load capacity, and unloaded vehicle weight, any of which could lead to overloading or improper tire inflation. There is also a recall on certain custom van builds covering a fire extinguisher that may not function properly.
At a glance
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The hydraulic hoses that return fluid from the power steering system may come loose at their connection points during normal driving, causing steering fluid to leak out.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the power steering return line connections and tighten or repair them as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver front air bag inflator may explode during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver front air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may break apart instead of inflating normally during a crash due to propellant breaking down over time from heat and moisture exposure.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The unloaded vehicle weight label on certain Sprinter vans with folding seats may show an incorrect weight, which could lead to overloading.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the weight label and inspect your vehicle to ensure it is not overloaded.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fire extinguisher may clog and fail to spray, require excessive force to activate, or have a nozzle that detaches and causes injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fire extinguisher with a different brand at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The weight capacity label on the B-pillar may show a higher maximum load than the vehicle can safely carry.
What the fix does
Dealers will check and replace the label if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The unloaded vehicle weight label in the engine compartment may show incorrect weight information.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the label with a corrected version containing accurate weight data.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driveshaft lacks a catch strap, which allows it to move freely and potentially strike the fuel tank.
What the fix does
Dealers will install the missing driveshaft catch strap at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure label on the B-pillar lists a pressure that is too low for the reinforced front axles on these vehicles.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the tire label with the correct pressure information at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bracket holding the drive shaft's intermediate bearing may have been improperly welded and could loosen during a frontal crash, allowing the drive shaft to damage the fuel system and cause a fuel leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will reinforce the intermediate bearing bracket by adding three rivets to secure it properly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bracket that supports the center bearing on the driveshaft may not be properly welded, which could cause it to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will install three additional rivets to secure the bracket at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag control unit lacks a reinforcement plate and protective bracket. After an initial impact, the unit may stop working, preventing air bags from deploying in a secondary impact.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a reinforcement plate and protective bracket around the air bag control unit at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left side seat adjusters may allow seats to shift during a crash instead of staying firmly in place.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the left slide track at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts that attach the lower seat belt connection to the rear bench seat may not be properly tightened, which could cause the seat belt attachment to loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the connecting bolts and tighten them as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts that anchor the rear bench seat belts may not have been tightened properly during manufacturing, potentially causing the seat belts to fail to restrain occupants in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will check that the seat belt anchor bolts are tightened to the correct specification and tighten them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Certain 2015-2016 Sprinter vans with super-high roofs may lack the required crash pads needed for safety.
What the fix does
Dealers will install the required crash pads at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Multiple paint layers may cause windows to separate from the vehicle during a crash when the outer paint layer peels away from the layer underneath.
What the fix does
Dealers will remove the windows, inspect the paintwork, and repaint the vehicle as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure label lists a maximum load capacity higher than what the vehicle can safely carry.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the incorrect tire pressure label at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
