This page covers 3 recalls and 20 owner complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500.
The dominant pattern in 2012 Sprinter 3500 complaints centers on vehicle speed control and starting reliability. Several owners report intermittent no-start conditions where the engine fails to crank on the first attempt, sometimes requiring dozens of ignition cycles before the vehicle starts, with no consistent trigger and no warning beforehand. Airbag-related complaints make up the second-largest group, though the representative reports don't detail specific symptoms beyond part availability issues at the dealer level. Wheel complaints round out the top named systems with two reports. The no-start pattern is the most consistently described experience across multiple owners, with some noting it could go weeks behaving normally before the problem returned.
20
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 has 3 recalls, the most serious being two separate airbag inflator defects — both the driver and front passenger inflators can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, risking serious injury or death.
Both airbag concerns cover the frontal inflators on either side of the vehicle and represent the most urgent safety issue on this van. The third recall affects vehicles that have been upfitted as campers or recreational vehicles: the electronic stability control unit can disable itself, reducing the van's ability to maintain control in demanding driving conditions and raising the risk of a crash.
At a glance
What can fail
The Electronic Stability Control system may stop working on certain 2012-2018 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 campers and recreational vehicles.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear-wheel speed sensor with a more durable sensor at no cost.
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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 →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture when deployed in a crash because the propellant degrades over time from exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the front passenger air bag at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag inflator may build up excessive pressure and rupture when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the driver's front air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
