2012 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500 has 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electronic systems problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: drove on interstate expressway at 60 mph when suddenly the engine disconnected from the transmission. check engine light, abs warning, esc warning and asc warning light came on. had to carefully coast to the road shoulder. turned off engine and checked for obvious problems under the hood, but found . ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
31
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
5 complaints- • DROVE ON INTERSTATE EXPRESSWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS WARNING, ESC WARNING AND ASC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO CAREFULLY COAST TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND CHECKED FOR OBVIOUS PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD, BUT FOUND
- • WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CLEAR WEATHER, ABS/BAS/ESP WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON CAUSING LIMITED DRIVING DUE TO NO ABS BRAKING CRUISE CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON VARIOUS WHEELS OF MY SPRINTER 3500 FROM 2013-2019. THE FAILURE OF THESE SENSORS CAUSES A VERY UNSAFE COND
- • EIGHT (8) WHEEL SPEED INDICATORS HAVE FAILED AT THE FOLLOWING MILEAGES: 21,866/26 AUG 2015 (2 EACH REAR AXLE); 22,594/8 SEP 2015 ('2 EACH FRONT AXLE); 40,996/17 APR 2018 (1 EACH RIGHT REAR AXLE) AND (1 EACH LEFT FRONT AXLE); 42,319/ 9 MAY 2018 (1 EACH RIGHT FRONT AXLE); AND 48,041/ 2 OCT 2018 (1 EA
“DROVE ON INTERSTATE EXPRESSWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS WARNING, ESC WARNING AND ASC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO CAREFULLY COAST TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND CHECKED FOR OBVIOUS PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD, BUT FOUND ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
5 complaints- • DROVE ON INTERSTATE EXPRESSWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS WARNING, ESC WARNING AND ASC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO CAREFULLY COAST TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND CHECKED FOR OBVIOUS PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD, BUT FOUND
- • WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CLEAR WEATHER, ABS/BAS/ESP WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON CAUSING LIMITED DRIVING DUE TO NO ABS BRAKING CRUISE CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON VARIOUS WHEELS OF MY SPRINTER 3500 FROM 2013-2019. THE FAILURE OF THESE SENSORS CAUSES A VERY UNSAFE COND
- • THIS IS A SECOND OCCURANCE OF A PROBLEM REPORTED UNDER COMPLAINT NO. 11094122. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (CEL, ABS, ESC AND ASC). DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A 'MALFUNCTIONNING RPM SENSOR'.
“DROVE ON INTERSTATE EXPRESSWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS WARNING, ESC WARNING AND ASC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO CAREFULLY COAST TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND CHECKED FOR OBVIOUS PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD, BUT FOUND ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
4 complaints- • TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER
- • TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR.
- • MY SON CHRISTOPHER JOHN LEE HOWARD WAS IS TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN DALLAS ON SEPT 11,2020 AND DIED AS A RESULT SEVERE INJURIES INTERNAL INJURIES THAT LEAD TO MAJOR BLEEDING OF THE STOMACH AND UPPER TORSO.*DT*DT*JB
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
4 complaints- • FIRE - LOOKS LIKE STARTED IN FRIDGE AREA. COULDN'T PUT OUT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ONSITE WITHIN 5-6 MINUTES BUT TOTAL LOSS BY THIS TIME. *DT*JB*DT*JB
- • MY SON CHRISTOPHER JOHN LEE HOWARD WAS IS TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN DALLAS ON SEPT 11,2020 AND DIED AS A RESULT SEVERE INJURIES INTERNAL INJURIES THAT LEAD TO MAJOR BLEEDING OF THE STOMACH AND UPPER TORSO.*DT*DT*JB
- • I( HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS AND I CANNOT COUNT THE TIMES IT FAILED TO START. WHEN YOU TRIED TO START IT THE ENGINE NEVER WOULD TURN OVER.SOME TIMES I WOULD TRY TO START IT FOR DOZENS OF TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER. THIS COULD BE S SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR SENIOR PEOPLE. I HAVE SEE
“FIRE - LOOKS LIKE STARTED IN FRIDGE AREA. COULDN'T PUT OUT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ONSITE WITHIN 5-6 MINUTES BUT TOTAL LOSS BY THIS TIME. *DT*JB*DT*JB”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
3 complaints- • VEHICLE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE GOING 70MPH ON I95 IN JACKSONVILLE FL.LOST ALL POWER FOR STEERING, BRAKES AND ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. NO POWER FOR RADIO/A/C OR ANYTHING. MANAGED TO MANEUVER VEHICLE IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TRAFFIC OVER 5 LANES ONTO OFFING RAMP, AND STOP ON SIDE OF RAMP. THIS
- • WHILE IN MOTION AND ACCELERATING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLS WHEN ABRUPTLY TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR REQUIRING COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, SHIFT TO PARK, RESTART. AFTER RESTART, ENGINE OPERATES NORMALLY UNTIL ABRUPTLY TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR. WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR SLOWLY, ENGINE DOES
- • THIS IS A SECOND OCCURANCE OF A PROBLEM REPORTED UNDER COMPLAINT NO. 11094122. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (CEL, ABS, ESC AND ASC). DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A 'MALFUNCTIONNING RPM SENSOR'.
“VEHICLE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE GOING 70MPH ON I95 IN JACKSONVILLE FL.LOST ALL POWER FOR STEERING, BRAKES AND ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. NO POWER FOR RADIO/A/C OR ANYTHING. MANAGED TO MANEUVER VEHICLE IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TRAFFIC OVER 5 LANES ONTO OFFING RAMP, AND STOP ON SIDE OF RAMP. THIS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 31 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: DROVE ON INTERSTATE EXPRESSWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS WARNING, ESC WARNING AND ASC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO CAREFULLY COAST TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND CHECKED FOR OBVIOUS PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD, BUT FOUND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: DROVE ON INTERSTATE EXPRESSWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS WARNING, ESC WARNING AND ASC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO CAREFULLY COAST TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND CHECKED FOR OBVIOUS PROBLEMS UNDER THE HOOD, BUT FOUND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: FIRE - LOOKS LIKE STARTED IN FRIDGE AREA. COULDN'T PUT OUT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ONSITE WITHIN 5-6 MINUTES BUT TOTAL LOSS BY THIS TIME. *DT*JB*DT*JB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500 — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 31
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500