2015 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500 has 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: 2015 mercedes solera sprinter rv. consumer writes in regards to rv brake problems. *smd the consumer stated during a test drive at lo speeds in the city, he found the rv had a soft brake pedal. it wasn't until after he purchased the rv the spongy brakes were very noticeable when trying to stop fr.

2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

13 complaints

21%

• 2015 MERCEDES SOLERA SPRINTER RV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RV BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DURING A TEST DRIVE AT LO SPEEDS IN THE CITY, HE FOUND THE RV HAD A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER HE PURCHASED THE RV THE SPONGY BRAKES WERE VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN TRYING TO STOP FR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND. AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED A SECOND TIME, IT RESET BACK TO THE PROPER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEA
• WHILE DRIVING, THREE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ADVISING I HAD LOST MY ABS AND MY CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE VEHICLE SOON WENT INTO LIMP MODE. BOTH REAR WHEEL ABS SPEED SENSORS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED BY A MERCEDES SPRINTER DEALER. I SOON DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ONLY H

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2015 MERCEDES SOLERA SPRINTER RV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RV BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DURING A TEST DRIVE AT LO SPEEDS IN THE CITY, HE FOUND THE RV HAD A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER HE PURCHASED THE RV THE SPONGY BRAKES WERE VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN TRYING TO STOP FR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

12 complaints

19%

• WHILE DRIVING OUR 2015 MERCEDES SPRINTER 3500 ON I-5 SOUTH FROM OAKLAND, CA TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK ON THURSDAY, MARCH 19 SUDDENLY OUR SPEED CONTROL QUIT FUNCTIONING AND THE ABS, ESP AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON OUR INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTED UP. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED A MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE
• I'M EXPERIENCING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND FAILURE AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEED. IT'S HAPPENED APPROX 10 TIMES. ONCE WHEN ENCOUNTERING A DIP IN THE ROAD. ONCE IN HEAVY CROSS WINDS. AND LASTLY WHEN PASSING AN 18 WHEELER. UPON MALFUNCTION, MY CAMPER LOOSES POWER DUE TO CRUISE CONTROL DROPPING
• I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THEN ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRY TO ACCELERATE AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PETAL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS WAS TO PH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING OUR 2015 MERCEDES SPRINTER 3500 ON I-5 SOUTH FROM OAKLAND, CA TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK ON THURSDAY, MARCH 19 SUDDENLY OUR SPEED CONTROL QUIT FUNCTIONING AND THE ABS, ESP AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON OUR INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTED UP. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED A MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

11 complaints

17%

• ABS,ESP AND TRACTION CONTROL OUT. WHEEL SPEED SENSORS CAUSE FAULT THAT TRIGGERS ALL THREE SYSTEMS TO FAIL. I HAVE REPLACED REAR WHEEL SENSORS THREE TIMES. WHEN FAILING THE TRANSMISSION IS ERRATIC AND WANTS TO SURGE AHEAD. I MUST STAND ON THE BRAKE TO NOT HIT THE CARS IN FRONT. MY VEHICLE HAS 22,000
• THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE RPM SPEED SENSORS HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2016, 3500 MERCEDES SPRINTER
• WHILE DRIVING OUR 2015 MERCEDES SPRINTER 3500 ON I-5 SOUTH FROM OAKLAND, CA TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK ON THURSDAY, MARCH 19 SUDDENLY OUR SPEED CONTROL QUIT FUNCTIONING AND THE ABS, ESP AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON OUR INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTED UP. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED A MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ABS,ESP AND TRACTION CONTROL OUT. WHEEL SPEED SENSORS CAUSE FAULT THAT TRIGGERS ALL THREE SYSTEMS TO FAIL. I HAVE REPLACED REAR WHEEL SENSORS THREE TIMES. WHEN FAILING THE TRANSMISSION IS ERRATIC AND WANTS TO SURGE AHEAD. I MUST STAND ON THE BRAKE TO NOT HIT THE CARS IN FRONT. MY VEHICLE HAS 22,000”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THEN ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRY TO ACCELERATE AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PETAL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS WAS TO PH
• THIS IS A WINNEBAGO VIEW 24G ON SPRINTER 3500 CHASSIS. WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING, SUDDEN ABS AND ESP WARNING LIGHT WITH MESSAGE TO GO TO WORKSHOP. CRUISE CONTROL STOPS WORKING. LOSS OF POWER AND SHIFTING ABILITY IS INTERMITTENT. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE (WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL AND WITH WARNING LIGHTS ON)
• THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 4 SEPARATE WHEEL SPED SENSOR FAILURES. WHEN EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND AT THE SAME TIME THE ABS WILL NOT ALLOW FULL BRAKING PRESSURE WHILE UNDERWAY. YOU WILL HEAR THE ABS SOUND LIKE IT'S SLIDING ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE IN ANY CONDITION. AS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THEN ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRY TO ACCELERATE AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PETAL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS WAS TO PH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

3 complaints

• THE VEHICLE IS A MERCEDES SPRINTER VAN CONVERTED BY WINNEBAGO INTO THEIR MODEL ERA RV. A PART OF THE CONVERSION IS CHANGING THE STANDARD, OUTER REAR WHEELS FROM MERCEDES AND REPLACING THEM WITH WINNEBAGO STEEL WHEELS. IN MAKING THIS CHANGE, THE VALVE STEM OF THE INNER TIRE BECOMES INACCESSIBLE TO
• WINNEBAGO VIEW WITH MERCEDES SPRINTER CHASSIS AND CHROME REAR OUTSIDE DUAL WHEELS DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INNER DUAL TIRE TO CHECK AND CHANGE THE AIR PRESSURE. WINNEBAGO PROVIDES A RUBBER TUBE TO BE USED AS A TOOL TO REMOVE AND REINSTALL THE TIRE VALVE CAPS ON THE INNER WHEEL BUT THE ANGLE AND
• I'M EXPERIENCING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND FAILURE AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEED. IT'S HAPPENED APPROX 10 TIMES. ONCE WHEN ENCOUNTERING A DIP IN THE ROAD. ONCE IN HEAVY CROSS WINDS. AND LASTLY WHEN PASSING AN 18 WHEELER. UPON MALFUNCTION, MY CAMPER LOOSES POWER DUE TO CRUISE CONTROL DROPPING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VEHICLE IS A MERCEDES SPRINTER VAN CONVERTED BY WINNEBAGO INTO THEIR MODEL ERA RV. A PART OF THE CONVERSION IS CHANGING THE STANDARD, OUTER REAR WHEELS FROM MERCEDES AND REPLACING THEM WITH WINNEBAGO STEEL WHEELS. IN MAKING THIS CHANGE, THE VALVE STEM OF THE INNER TIRE BECOMES INACCESSIBLE TO ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 63 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: 2015 MERCEDES SOLERA SPRINTER RV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RV BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DURING A TEST DRIVE AT LO SPEEDS IN THE CITY, HE FOUND THE RV HAD A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER HE PURCHASED THE RV THE SPONGY BRAKES WERE VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN TRYING TO STOP FR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: WHILE DRIVING OUR 2015 MERCEDES SPRINTER 3500 ON I-5 SOUTH FROM OAKLAND, CA TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK ON THURSDAY, MARCH 19 SUDDENLY OUR SPEED CONTROL QUIT FUNCTIONING AND THE ABS, ESP AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON OUR INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTED UP. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED A MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: ABS,ESP AND TRACTION CONTROL OUT. WHEEL SPEED SENSORS CAUSE FAULT THAT TRIGGERS ALL THREE SYSTEMS TO FAIL. I HAVE REPLACED REAR WHEEL SENSORS THREE TIMES. WHEN FAILING THE TRANSMISSION IS ERRATIC AND WANTS TO SURGE AHEAD. I MUST STAND ON THE BRAKE TO NOT HIT THE CARS IN FRONT. MY VEHICLE HAS 22,000
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THEN ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRY TO ACCELERATE AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PETAL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS WAS TO PH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)