2016 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500 has 95 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: the vehicle has excessive brake pedal free-play travel before braking occurs. although the manufacturer's owners manual warns against pumping the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, it is imperative to do so especially in an emergency situation. if the driver has to hesitate to make a decision on whet. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 5 crash reports 7 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

14 complaints

15%

• THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL FREE-PLAY TRAVEL BEFORE BRAKING OCCURS. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER'S OWNERS MANUAL WARNS AGAINST PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO DO SO ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IF THE DRIVER HAS TO HESITATE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHET
• HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A CAR THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT. REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LINE FAILED AS A RESULT OF THE STOP. PUMPING BRAKES RESULTED IN FLUID BEING PUMPED OUT OF THE LINES.
• WHILE DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SEND FIRE, SMOKE AND STEAM FROM THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT UNDER THE DASH BOARD AND OVER THE WIND SHIELD, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO STOP RUNNING AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL SENDING MY WIFE AND I DOWN A WINDING MOUNTAIN AND ULTIMATELY RESU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL FREE-PLAY TRAVEL BEFORE BRAKING OCCURS. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER'S OWNERS MANUAL WARNS AGAINST PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO DO SO ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IF THE DRIVER HAS TO HESITATE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHET”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

14 complaints

15%

• 2016 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 35. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SHIFTER BEING UNABLE TO MOVE INTO PARK OR REVERSE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. *JS *TR
• 7-9-2018: PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITH A 2018 THOR CHATEAU 24FS (WITH A 2016 SPRINTER 3500 DIESEL CHASSIS) WITH LESS THAN 9K MILES, I HAD A "BANG" FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IN HINDSIGHT, THIS WAS JUST AFTER A RIGHT TURN. ABOUT 300 MILES LATER AFTER A STOP LIGHT AND 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN, THE TRANSMI
• AT 12000 MILES, BOTH REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FAILED CAUSING MULTIPLE INDICATOR PANEL ALARMS, SPONGY BRAKING AND DRIVETRAIN/TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN A GEAR, IE. WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS (STUCK IN FIRST GEAR ON INTERSTATE AT ONE POINT). *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED. B

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

“2016 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 35. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SHIFTER BEING UNABLE TO MOVE INTO PARK OR REVERSE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. *JS *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

12 complaints

13%

• AT 12000 MILES, BOTH REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FAILED CAUSING MULTIPLE INDICATOR PANEL ALARMS, SPONGY BRAKING AND DRIVETRAIN/TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN A GEAR, IE. WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS (STUCK IN FIRST GEAR ON INTERSTATE AT ONE POINT). *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED. B
• REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. CAN CAUSE VEHICLE TO SURGE UNCOMMANDED. VEHICLE ENTERS LIMITED OR LIMP MODE. SOME FEATURES / FUNCTIONS ARE DISABLED. WHILE STATIONARY VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE (SURGE) IN SPITE OF DRIVER BRAKE APPLICATION. VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS FAILURE TWO TIMES ONCE FOR EACH RE
• ON FEBRUARY 14, 2019, WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500 RV IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DURING A RAINSTORM IN SPRING HILL, FLORIDA. MULTIPLE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING THE VEHICLE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING VERY ERRATICALLY WHILE WE WERE IN TRAFFIC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“AT 12000 MILES, BOTH REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FAILED CAUSING MULTIPLE INDICATOR PANEL ALARMS, SPONGY BRAKING AND DRIVETRAIN/TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN A GEAR, IE. WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS (STUCK IN FIRST GEAR ON INTERSTATE AT ONE POINT). *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED. B”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

12 complaints

13%

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (2400 SE
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE PART FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V004000 (AIR BAGS) WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FROM WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN MERCEDES-BENZ OF
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V004000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ OF FAIRFIELD (LOCATED AT 2950 AUTO MALL PKWY, FAIRFIELD, CA 94533, (707) 430-0101) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (2400 SE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

10 complaints

11%

• ABS/ESP/CECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AT ONCE. MERCEDES DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS LEFT REAR RPM SENSOR. MADE REPAIR. UNDERSTAND FROM OWNER FORUMS SENSOR FAILURE IS VERY COMMON ON THESE VEHICLES. ONLY HAD 22,700 MILES. MERCEDES NEEDS TO WORK ON IMPROVING THESE PARTS OR MAKE REPAIRS AT NO
• WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO DISABLE CRUISE CONTROL, ABS BRAKE SYSTEM AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN LIMP MODE. CANNOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 25 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. WAS TRAVELLING AT 62 MPH WHEN EVENT OCCURED. FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE!
• WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILED AT 10000 MILES (REFER TO PREVIOUS COMPLAINT), AGAIN FAILS AT 20000 MILES CAUSING ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND PROPULSION WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT.

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

“ABS/ESP/CECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AT ONCE. MERCEDES DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS LEFT REAR RPM SENSOR. MADE REPAIR. UNDERSTAND FROM OWNER FORUMS SENSOR FAILURE IS VERY COMMON ON THESE VEHICLES. ONLY HAD 22,700 MILES. MERCEDES NEEDS TO WORK ON IMPROVING THESE PARTS OR MAKE REPAIRS AT NO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 95 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL FREE-PLAY TRAVEL BEFORE BRAKING OCCURS. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER'S OWNERS MANUAL WARNS AGAINST PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO DO SO ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IF THE DRIVER HAS TO HESITATE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHET
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 2016 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 35. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SHIFTER BEING UNABLE TO MOVE INTO PARK OR REVERSE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. *JS *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: AT 12000 MILES, BOTH REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FAILED CAUSING MULTIPLE INDICATOR PANEL ALARMS, SPONGY BRAKING AND DRIVETRAIN/TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN A GEAR, IE. WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS (STUCK IN FIRST GEAR ON INTERSTATE AT ONE POINT). *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED. B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (2400 SE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)