Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 with NHTSA between 2016 and 2021.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 13 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 17
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
80% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2013 compares with every other Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
960.0%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
213.3%
Median failure at 33,500 miles
Lights
213.3%
Median failure at 10,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
16.7%
Median failure at 33,500 miles
Engine & Cooling
16.7%
Median failure at 132,977 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
120.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
360.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
120.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Oct 2016peak 3Jan 2021
NHTSA investigations into the 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler) as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers to identify incidents related to Rear Wheel Speed Sensors (RWSS) failures. ODI's analysis identified 6,710 incidents of RWSS failure (unique VINs) in MY 2012-2018 Mercedes- Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles upfitted to campers or recreational vehicles (RVs) representing 81 percent of all Sprinter RWSS reports. Complaint and warranty analysis indicated that the majority of incidents (approximately 99%) were related to RWSS mois...
Recalls on the 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 201945523,448 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function. Safety Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury. Corrective Action: Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to have the passenger-front airbag module replaced. Note: The Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. This recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk. It is expected that all airbag inflators will be replaced before their function would be affected. Additional note: This recall supersedes recall 2018-648.
Recall 201945426,050 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the driver-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function. Safety Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury. Corrective Action: Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to have the driver-front airbag module replaced. Note: The Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. This recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk. It is expected that all airbag inflators will be replaced before their function would be affected. Additional note: This recall supersedes recall 2016-159.
Recall 201864813,166 units in Canada
Airbag
On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger frontal airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. As a result, if the vehicle were involved in a collision that warrants airbag deployment, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants, and the airbag assembly could be damaged, preventing proper function. These issues could increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag module. Note: Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. The recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk, and is expected to replace airbag inflators before their function would be affected. Note: This recall is superseded by recall 2019455. Please see <a href="http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/detail.aspx?lang=eng&&rn=2019455">recall 2019455</a> for more information.
Recall 201615913,410 units in Canada
Airbag
On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, which could allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. This could also damage the airbag module, which could prevent proper deployment. Failure of the airbag to fully deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the front driver air bag module. Note: This recall is superseded by recall 2019454. Please see <a href="http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/detail.aspx?lang=eng&&rn=2019454">recall 2019454</a> for more information.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 33,500 milesHinckley, MN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 65 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OFF AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING ABS AND 2 OTHER NEXT THAT ONE LOOKING LIKE A SWERVE CONTROL OR SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITION AND ANOTHER TIRE LOOKING LIGHT. NOT SURE OF OTHER TWO LIGHT AS THIS WAS MY FIRST DRIVE IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH I HAD DRIVEN AROUND 800 MILES THIS DAY. I PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD AS I WAS IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION ON A STEEP HILL. UPON RESTART IT STARTED TO REV THEN BRAKE MULTIPLE TIMES CAUSING GREAT DANGER IN MY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO NEXT SIDE EXIT AND SHIP OFF. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY COLD NIGHT AND I HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11389718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,500 milesHinckley, MN
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 65 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OFF AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING ABS AND 2 OTHER NEXT THAT ONE LOOKING LIKE A SWERVE CONTROL OR SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITION AND ANOTHER TIRE LOOKING LIGHT. NOT SURE OF OTHER TWO LIGHT AS THIS WAS MY FIRST DRIVE IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH I HAD DRIVEN AROUND 800 MILES THIS DAY. I PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD AS I WAS IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION ON A STEEP HILL. UPON RESTART IT STARTED TO REV THEN BRAKE MULTIPLE TIMES CAUSING GREAT DANGER IN MY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO NEXT SIDE EXIT AND SHIP OFF. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY COLD NIGHT AND I HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11389718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 65 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OFF AND THREE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING ABS AND 2 OTHER NEXT THAT ONE LOOKING LIKE A SWERVE CONTROL OR SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITION AND ANOTHER TIRE LOOKING LIGHT. NOT SURE OF OTHER TWO LIGHT AS THIS WAS MY FIRST DRIVE IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH I HAD DRIVEN AROUND 800 MILES THIS DAY. I PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD AS I WAS IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION ON A STEEP HILL. UPON RESTART IT STARTED TO REV THEN BRAKE MULTIPLE TIMES CAUSING GREAT DANGER IN MY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO NEXT SIDE EXIT AND SHIP OFF. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY COLD NIGHT AND I HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11389718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 132,977 milesGrants Pass, OR
ENGINE
MERCEDES BENZ 2500 2013 V6 DIESEL. YELLOW ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE EBT YELLOW WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND ANOTHER WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THERE ARE 5 MORE ENGINE STARTS REMAINING AND IT WILL NOT START IF DRIVEN MORE THAN 340 MILES. BOTH THE ERG VALVE AND THE EBT TANK AND HEATER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. WE WERE DRIVING UNDER AN EVACUATION ALERT BECAUSE OF FIRE. SPEED WAS 45-50 MPH. THIS INCIDENT HAS PUT US IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WE ARE DEPENDENT IN THE SPRINTER FOR EVACUATION. THE DEALER IS 40 MILES AWAY AND CANNOT SERVICE THE SPRINTER UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER. LAST NIGHT WE READ ABOUT MERCEDES BENZ EPA SETTLEMENT BECAUSE OF A DEFEAT PROGRAM AND FAULTY EMISSION COMPONENTS. WHAT CAN WE DO?
NHTSA complaint #11355406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesCrystal River, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS WATER IN BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE LOW BEAM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF TAMPA (866-342-3941, LOCATED AT 4400 N DALE MABRY HWY, TAMPA, FL 33614) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS WATER CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.
NHTSA complaint #11256129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crystal River, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN I TURN ON MY VEHICLE IT SHOWS LOW BEAM RIGHT LEFT I TAKE IT TO THE BENZ DEALER IN TAMPA THE PROBLEM THEY CAME UP WITH WATER INTRUSION IN BOTH FRONT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLE. HEAD LAMP UNIT FOUND CONDENSATION FORMING IN HEADLAMPS. THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AS NO REPAIR CAN BE PERFORMED TOTAL COST $4230.14. GOT INTOUCH WITH THE EXEC. REFERRAL MANAGER TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. I THINK THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL. I DON'T SEE WHY I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX PROBLEM THEIR SHOULD BE NO CONDENSATION AT ALL SO I LEFT WITH ONLY DRIVING MY VEHICLE DURING THE DAY I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHTS WITH NO LIGHT. YOUR EARLY ATTENTION TO MY PROBLEM WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC
NHTSA complaint #11255765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Williamsburg, VA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL: FOR 25 YEARS WE HAVE HAD A SERIES OF MOTOR HOMES THAT WE USED FOR WEEKEND TRIPS AND LONGER VACATIONS. WE BOUGHT OUR CURRENT RV (WHICH IS OUR THIRD ONE) AS A NEW VEHICLE IN EARLY 2013. IT IS A WINNEBAGO VIEW THAT IS ON A 2013 MERCEDES SPRINTER CHASSIS (VIN: XXXX). WE ARE VERY DISSATISFIED WITH MERCEDES BENZ AND WITH OUR VEHICLE WHICH HAS A LONG-STANDING RECALL FOR THE TAKATA AIRBAGS. MERCEDES HAS ALREADY REPLACED OUR DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, BUT AFTER MANY MONTHS WE ARE STILL ON A WAITING LIST FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. OUR DEALER, TYSINGER MERCEDES IN VIRGINIA, IS UNABLE TO TELL US WHEN OUR DEFECTIVE AIRBAG WILL BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS INTENDED TO BE THE SOURCE OF MANY TRIPS FOR US DURING OUR RETIREMENT. AFTER WORKING FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS INCLUDING A MILITARY CAREER, WE ARE STUCK WITH A VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLE THAT HAS A FATAL SAFETY FLAW AND WE ARE EFFECTIVELY DENIED OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON THE TRIPS THAT WE SO EAGERLY ANTICIPATED. WE REJECT MERCEDES' EXPLANATIONS: --THE STATE THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN ANY TAKATA-RELATED INJURIES IN THEIR VEHICLES, IMPLYING THAT INCIDENTS ARE ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MERCEDES VEHICLES. BUT NHTSA HAS DETERMINED THAT TAKATA AIRBAGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE INFLATORS COULD EXPLODE CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. MERCEDES LEGAL LIABILITY IS THE PRIMARY REASON THAT MERCEDES DECIDED TO REPLACE THEM. --WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IF WE WERE TO EXPERIENCE AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT THAT WE WOULD MOVE TO THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR REPLACEMENT, EVIDENCE THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. --THEY HAVE STATED THAT THEY ARE SUBJECT TO MANUFACTURE, BUT THIS PIPELINE BELONGS TO THEM. --THEY HAVE STATED THAT THEY ARE TAKING STEPS TO MINIMIZE CUSTOMER INCONVENIENCE BUT SHOW NO INTEREST IN KEEPING US INFORMED. WE WANT MERCEDES TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS AIRBAG OR TO COMPENSATE US FOR THE LOSS OF THIS VEHICLE. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11157082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesville, GA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL - I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON MARCH 2018. I TOOK MY SPRINTER TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 FOR REPLACEMENT. AFTER RECEIVING MY SPRINTER BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THAT ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAD BEEN REPLACED. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS, AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD NOT BE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. CONSIDERING HOW DANGEROUS THESE AIRBAGS ARE, IT SEEMS THAT A WAIT TIME OF CURRENTLY SEVEN MONTHS AND EXPECTING A DELAY OF ANOTHER SEVERAL MONTHS IS UNACCEPTABLY LONG.
NHTSA complaint #11133055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garden Grove, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500 (M2CV144). THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V032000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V077000 (AIR BAGS). MERCEDES-BENZ OF LONG BEACH (2300 EAST SPRING STREET, SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755, (888)-340-8366) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR 18V032000 AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT FOR 16V077000.
NHTSA complaint #11133141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valdosta, GA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL - UNABLE TO GET DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE AIRBAG
NHTSA complaint #11104538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyde Park, UT
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V032000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF ST. GEORGE (1792 S BLACK RIDGE DR., ST. GEORGE, UT 84770, (435) 634-7500) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11102806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Excelsor Springs, MO
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V032000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, BUT NOT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY YET FOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11096503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Navarre, FL
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V032000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT
NHTSA complaint #11083263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newport Richey, FL
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10946330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Port Richey, FL
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V073000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10920180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.