2017 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER 3500 has 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electronic systems problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: rmp sensor failed causing vehicle to lose anti lock brakes, traction control and cruise control. plus forced vehicle into limp mode so it would barely move to rest area to call for assistance. i've been to three dealerships with this issue and they are all very aware that these faulty sensors exist.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

7 complaints

18%

• RMP SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL. PLUS FORCED VEHICLE INTO LIMP MODE SO IT WOULD BARELY MOVE TO REST AREA TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. I'VE BEEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE ALL VERY AWARE THAT THESE FAULTY SENSORS EXIST
• OUR 2018 CLASS C TIFFIN WAYFARER IS BUILT ON THE 2017 MERCEDES SPRINTER 3500 CHASSIS. AT 17,380 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, WHILE MOVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN BANGING, LURCHING AND SPED UP. ALL THIS OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GO THROUGH A CITY STREET INTERSECTION. TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM THIS ERRATIC M
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V042000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN JOSE SERVICE CENTER LOCATED AT 3000 E. CAPITOL EXPY SUITE A, SAN JOSE, CA 95148, (408) 214-3009)

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

“RMP SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL. PLUS FORCED VEHICLE INTO LIMP MODE SO IT WOULD BARELY MOVE TO REST AREA TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. I'VE BEEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE ALL VERY AWARE THAT THESE FAULTY SENSORS EXIST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

6 complaints

15%

• THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO MY COMPLAINT OF AUGUST 27 2018, NHTSA NUMBER 11122749. I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE DATES AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF 3 WHEEL (RIMS) FAILURES DUE TO A CRACKED WELD WHERE THE TWO PIECES OF THE RIM ARE JOINED, CAUSING AIR TO LEAK AND TIRES TO DEFLATE. ON APRIL 12, 2019, I HAD ANOTHER FL
• I HAVE A 2018 THOR SIESTA MOTOR HOME BUILT ON A MERCEDES BENZ 3500 CHASSIS. I WENT ON A 6700 MILE CROSS COUNTRY TRIP AND UPON RETURN FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FLAT. A LOCAL SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE RIM WAS LEAKING AIR FROM A BAD WELD SPOT/CRACK ON THE INSIDE. I REPLACED THE RIM BACK ON MAY 27,
• WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. ABS, TRACTION CONTROL SIT DOWN UNTIL REPLACED SENSOR.

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

“THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO MY COMPLAINT OF AUGUST 27 2018, NHTSA NUMBER 11122749. I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE DATES AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF 3 WHEEL (RIMS) FAILURES DUE TO A CRACKED WELD WHERE THE TWO PIECES OF THE RIM ARE JOINED, CAUSING AIR TO LEAK AND TIRES TO DEFLATE. ON APRIL 12, 2019, I HAD ANOTHER FL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

5 complaints

13%

• TRAVELING ON I-95 WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS (ABS, TRACTION & THE ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL / ELECTRONIC BRAKING ASSIST) CAME ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. THERE ARE ONLY 21,
• RMP SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL. PLUS FORCED VEHICLE INTO LIMP MODE SO IT WOULD BARELY MOVE TO REST AREA TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. I'VE BEEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE ALL VERY AWARE THAT THESE FAULTY SENSORS EXIST
• OUR 2018 CLASS C TIFFIN WAYFARER IS BUILT ON THE 2017 MERCEDES SPRINTER 3500 CHASSIS. AT 17,380 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, WHILE MOVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN BANGING, LURCHING AND SPED UP. ALL THIS OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GO THROUGH A CITY STREET INTERSECTION. TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM THIS ERRATIC M

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

“TRAVELING ON I-95 WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS (ABS, TRACTION & THE ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL / ELECTRONIC BRAKING ASSIST) CAME ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. THERE ARE ONLY 21,”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

5 complaints

13%

• RMP SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL. PLUS FORCED VEHICLE INTO LIMP MODE SO IT WOULD BARELY MOVE TO REST AREA TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. I'VE BEEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE ALL VERY AWARE THAT THESE FAULTY SENSORS EXIST
• OUR 2018 CLASS C TIFFIN WAYFARER IS BUILT ON THE 2017 MERCEDES SPRINTER 3500 CHASSIS. AT 17,380 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, WHILE MOVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN BANGING, LURCHING AND SPED UP. ALL THIS OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GO THROUGH A CITY STREET INTERSECTION. TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM THIS ERRATIC M
• I'm getting wheel sensor errors and the vehicle goes into limp mode and disables the cruise control, even after replacing the sensors. Very frustrated with this dangerous situation!

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

• SPRINTER COMPLETELY LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN PROPULSION. THE TACH AND SPEEDOMETER FROZE IN PLACE AT 2500 RPM AND 15MPH. 60 SECONDS PASSED AND THE DASH LIGHTS BLINKED AND THEN ALLOWED ME TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT WAS LIKE THE SYSTEM RE-BOOTED ITSELF. LUCKILY I WAS NOT AT SPEED OR I
• WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. ABS, TRACTION CONTROL SIT DOWN UNTIL REPLACED SENSOR.
• The vehicle has swivel seats. When the driver’s seat swivel, it’s severed the wires, the control the SRS system.

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

“SPRINTER COMPLETELY LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN PROPULSION. THE TACH AND SPEEDOMETER FROZE IN PLACE AT 2500 RPM AND 15MPH. 60 SECONDS PASSED AND THE DASH LIGHTS BLINKED AND THEN ALLOWED ME TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT WAS LIKE THE SYSTEM RE-BOOTED ITSELF. LUCKILY I WAS NOT AT SPEED OR I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 40 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: RMP SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL. PLUS FORCED VEHICLE INTO LIMP MODE SO IT WOULD BARELY MOVE TO REST AREA TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. I'VE BEEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE ALL VERY AWARE THAT THESE FAULTY SENSORS EXIST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO MY COMPLAINT OF AUGUST 27 2018, NHTSA NUMBER 11122749. I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE DATES AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF 3 WHEEL (RIMS) FAILURES DUE TO A CRACKED WELD WHERE THE TWO PIECES OF THE RIM ARE JOINED, CAUSING AIR TO LEAK AND TIRES TO DEFLATE. ON APRIL 12, 2019, I HAD ANOTHER FL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TRAVELING ON I-95 WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS (ABS, TRACTION & THE ACCELERATION SKID CONTROL / ELECTRONIC BRAKING ASSIST) CAME ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. THERE ARE ONLY 21,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: RMP SENSOR FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL. PLUS FORCED VEHICLE INTO LIMP MODE SO IT WOULD BARELY MOVE TO REST AREA TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. I'VE BEEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE ALL VERY AWARE THAT THESE FAULTY SENSORS EXIST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)