2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering337.5%
- Airbags112.5%
- Body & structure112.5%
- Driver assistance112.5%
- Electrical112.5%
- Powertrain (other)112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE IS A WINNEBAGO REVEL RV BUILD ON A MERCEDES 4X4 SPRINTER. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING HOSE DISCONNECTED FROM THE RADIATOR, DUMPED ALL THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND CAUSED ME TO LOSE STEERING. I WAS IN MOTION, DRIVING UP A WINDING GRAVEL MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH VERY SHARP CURVES. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AS I WAS TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES SPRINTER, WELL-KNOWN TO THE WINNEBAGO REVEL 4X4 FACEBOOK GROUP. THE HIGH-PRESSURE HOSE IS TOO SHORT AND THE SPRING CLAMP INSUFFICIENT TO HOLD THE HOSE ON TO THE RADIATOR FITTING.
THE 2019 SPRINTER HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST FEATURE ("ALKA") A FEW WEEKS AGO I DROVE THE VAN FROM SAN DIEGO TO MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN (BISHOP, CA. I DIDN'T FEEL THE CROSSWIND WAS A DANGER BUT I HAD TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO BE PREPARED JUST IN CASE AS I HAD EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH THE ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST FEATURE IN THE PAST AND IT CAN NOT BE PERMANENTLY DISABLED. A BURST OF WIND HIT ME AND IT PUSHED ME ONTO THE RIGHT SOLID WHITE LINE. I HAD A FAIR AMOUNT OF TARMAC OUTSIDE THE LINE TO MY RIGHT SO I WASN'T THAT CONCERNED WITH MY TIRES BEING ON TOP OF THE LINE BUT THE VAN HAD OTHER IDEAS FOR ME. ALKA KICKED IN SUPER HARD AND CORRECTED ME BACK TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME AS THE ALKA HIT A LOT HARDER THAN I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE PULLING ME BACK TOWARDS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC GOING THE OTHER WAY! I RECALL MY INITIAL REACTION AS THINKING I HAD IMPACTED AN ANIMAL OR SOMETHING IT "HIT" SO HARD. I WENT INTO PANIC MODE AS I THOUGHT ALKA WAS GOING TO PUSH ME INTO A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC SO I INSTINCTIVELY COUNTER STEERED RIGHT TO CORRECT AWAY FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE NET RESULT WAS A VIOLENT RIGHT (WIND), LEFT (ALKA), RIGHT (DRIVER) COMBO THAT HAD ME THINKING FOR A SECOND I AS ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VAN AND FLIP IT. AN EXPERIENCE MY PILOT FRIENDS WOULD CALL HAVING A PUCKER FACTOR. I MANAGED TO CONTROL IT BUT IF I'M BEING HONEST, JUST BARELY. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LITTLE BREAK FROM DRIVING BEFORE MAKING SURE ALKA WAS TOTALLY OFF AND CONTINUING ON. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FROM THE SPRINTER SOURCE INTERNET FORUM FROM OTHER DRIVERS THAT THEY ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES AND THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS OF MY EXACT VAN AGREE THAT THIS SYSTEM HAS SERIOUS FLAWS THAT MAY CAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH AS IT CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE AND OVERREACTING. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact is a fleet manager for a business which owns multiple 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Vans. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the SRS warning light would remain illuminated due to the metal driver side seat frame tearing under the seat and also the driver side seat material becoming worn and open were the airbag is located. In addition the front driver side door would not secure when closed due to a faulty door hinge. The vehicle was take to the local dealer who diagnosed that occupant sensor and driver side door hinge was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact indicated that all nineteen vehicles in the fleet had been serviced for the same failures. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 68,154.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact is a fleet manager for a business which owns multiple 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter Vans. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the SRS warning light would remain illuminated due to the metal driver side seat frame tearing under the seat and also the driver side seat material becoming worn and open were the airbag is located. In addition the front driver side door would not secure when closed due to a faulty door hinge. The vehicle was take to the local dealer who diagnosed that occupant sensor and driver side door hinge was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact indicated that all nineteen vehicles in the fleet had been serviced for the same failures. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 68,154.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE 2019 SPRINTER HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST FEATURE ("ALKA") A FEW WEEKS AGO I DROVE THE VAN FROM SAN DIEGO TO MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN (BISHOP, CA. I DIDN'T FEEL THE CROSSWIND WAS A DANGER BUT I HAD TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO BE PREPARED JUST IN CASE AS I HAD EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH THE ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST FEATURE IN THE PAST AND IT CAN NOT BE PERMANENTLY DISABLED. A BURST OF WIND HIT ME AND IT PUSHED ME ONTO THE RIGHT SOLID WHITE LINE. I HAD A FAIR AMOUNT OF TARMAC OUTSIDE THE LINE TO MY RIGHT SO I WASN'T THAT CONCERNED WITH MY TIRES BEING ON TOP OF THE LINE BUT THE VAN HAD OTHER IDEAS FOR ME. ALKA KICKED IN SUPER HARD AND CORRECTED ME BACK TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME AS THE ALKA HIT A LOT HARDER THAN I HAD EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE PULLING ME BACK TOWARDS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC GOING THE OTHER WAY! I RECALL MY INITIAL REACTION AS THINKING I HAD IMPACTED AN ANIMAL OR SOMETHING IT "HIT" SO HARD. I WENT INTO PANIC MODE AS I THOUGHT ALKA WAS GOING TO PUSH ME INTO A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC SO I INSTINCTIVELY COUNTER STEERED RIGHT TO CORRECT AWAY FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE NET RESULT WAS A VIOLENT RIGHT (WIND), LEFT (ALKA), RIGHT (DRIVER) COMBO THAT HAD ME THINKING FOR A SECOND I AS ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VAN AND FLIP IT. AN EXPERIENCE MY PILOT FRIENDS WOULD CALL HAVING A PUCKER FACTOR. I MANAGED TO CONTROL IT BUT IF I'M BEING HONEST, JUST BARELY. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LITTLE BREAK FROM DRIVING BEFORE MAKING SURE ALKA WAS TOTALLY OFF AND CONTINUING ON. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FROM THE SPRINTER SOURCE INTERNET FORUM FROM OTHER DRIVERS THAT THEY ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES AND THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS OF MY EXACT VAN AGREE THAT THIS SYSTEM HAS SERIOUS FLAWS THAT MAY CAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH AS IT CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE AND OVERREACTING. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Air blower, defrost, and heat failure in heavy rain creating a dangerous situation while driving 70mph on a two lane highway with oncoming traffic. I could not see and had to pull over. Visibility through the window became low very fast. Two years ago the same issue happened. The dealer updated software which fixed the issue, until now. When my vehicle was in the shop, they had another in as well with the same issue and they couldn't find a solution. The software update did not fix the problem for them. Long forum posts on the internet with many people having the same issue.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I WAS PARKED ON A CITY STREET I ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN MY 2019 SPRINTER AFTER PRESSING THE IGNITION BUTTON THAT IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE LEVER. THIS PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT ME KNOWING, WITHOUT A BEEP OR ANY SIGNAL THAT IT WAS NOT IN PARK ANY LONGER. I ENDED UP ROLLING THE VEHICLE BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR WHEN I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED. BODY DAMAGE WAS CAUSED ON BOTH VEHICLES, AND SINCE THE INCIDENT I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE LEVER DESIGN WHICH SEEMS TO BE UNIQUE TO MERCEDES WHICH HAS CAUSED DEATHS IN NEW YORK. JAKE FISHER, THE DIRECTOR OF AUTO TESTING AT CONSUMER REPORTS WAS CONNECTED TO THE ACCIDENT AND HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE INEFFICIENCY AND SAFETY OF THE DESIGN. HTTPS://WWW.NYDAILYNEWS.COM/NEW-YORK/DONOHUE-SUV-GEARSHIFT-DESIGN-EYED-METRO-NORTH-TRAGEDY-ARTICLE-1.2125193
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .