2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 Driver assistance Problems

THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN SENT TO MERCEDES CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE All of the following has started happening since an exhaust recall was done by Mercedes. In September 2022, we were driving cross country to Denver Colorado and enough codes piled up in the background that we went into limp mode in the middle of 70 MPH highway traffic. This happened without warning and was an extreme safety concern. But I was lucky to be near an exit and already in the right lane. I reset these codes and finished going to Denver the next day. The two Sprinter dealers in Denver were backlogged several weeks; so we spent over $600 trying to troubleshoot the issues with Colorado Fleetworks, a qualified Sprinter specialist. He checked codes too; ran other diagnostics; replaced the fuel filter and air filter even though they had been done only 10,000 miles earlier; and performed a forced DPF regeneration. He also replaced the DPF pressure sensor. This work did not help change the daily multiple code problems. We had to reset them every day coming back from our trip. When we returned home we took it to the dealer. They confirmed the codes, reset them, and test drove it 25 miles. Since codes didn't return, they said, "There is nothing we can do if we don't witness active codes." I said, "How active do they have to be? I will have codes in the next 20 to 30 miles like I do every day I drive it." These never happened in the 6 years prior to the recall wok. Either the programming is confused, some of the new sensors are faulty, or something. A totally separate problem is the faulty factory crimps on the connector of the rail pressure sensor. This is a known defect; and we've had the exact same symptoms and code as noted in Xentry TSB MC-10135520-9999. The engine has actually cut off when turning into traffic a few times. This is an extreme safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11505086

Incident

Sep 17, 2022

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the rear wheel speed sensor failed causing the transmission to inadvertently downshift. The contact stated that the abs warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic determined that the rear wheel speed sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred two years later. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21V042000 (Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

NHTSA ID

11418342

Incident

Oct 12, 2020

Mileage

28,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE DROVE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V042000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALERS TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11403082

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ON VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEN SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS THE VEHICLE SPEED SURGES AND OPERATES ERRATICALLY ON ITS OWN. CONDITION HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. CONDITIONS HAPPEN AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS

NHTSA ID

11398890

Incident

Feb 28, 2021

Mileage

46,000 mi

IT STARTED WITH TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING, DASH WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING, NO CRUISE CONTROL ALL WHILE IN MOTION

NHTSA ID

11387017

Incident

Dec 28, 2018

Mileage

28,000 mi

WHEEL SPEED SENSORS MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING. GOING ON THE THIRD TRIP TO THE DEALER FOR RNR. THIRD FAULT AFTER A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILES SINCE THE SECOND RNR. MANY INTERNET FORUMS EXPLAIN SAME ISSUES N FRUSTRATIONS. VEH HAS ONLY 13500 MILES, THREE RNRS WITHIN THE 500-1000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11383887

Incident

Dec 16, 2020

Mileage

13,500 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RAIN AND 3 MESSAGES DISPLAYED ON THE DASH: 1) ESP (ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM) VISIT WORKSHOP, 2) ASR (ACCELERATION SLIP REGULATION) ICON VISIT WORKSHOP AND 3) ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) VISIT WORKSHOP. ALSO RECEIVED COLLISION AVOIDANCE ASSIST INOPERATIVE NOTIFICATION. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND ERRATIC GEAR SHIFTING RESULTING IN EXTREMELY UNSAFE OPERATION. LATER, MERCEDES SERVICE DETERMINED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM (SEE ATTACHED). DIAGNOSIS AND FIX WAS $473.99 PLUS TAX. THEY SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SPRINTERS ESPECIALLY IF UPLIFTED TO RV. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN ONGOING NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THESE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO THEIR EFFECT ON ESP, ASR, ABS AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE ASSIST CAUSING UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND ERRATIC GEAR SHIFTING WHICH RESULTS IN EXTREMELY UNSAFE OPERATION.

NHTSA ID

11375403

Incident

Oct 25, 2020

Mileage

42,019 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE FOLLOWING WARNING MESSAGES APPEARED: ABS, ESP AND ARS NOT FUNCTIONING AND TAKE TO WORKSHOP. ALSO, THE BLINDSPOT WARNING ON MIRRORS STOPPED WORKING, AS DID THE CRUISE CONTROL. DROVE SEVERAL HOURS TO NEAREST MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WITHOUT THESE SAFETY FEATURES. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS RPM SENSOR FAILURE. WAS ADVISED THAT ALTHOUGH ONLY ONE SENSOR FAILED, THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40,111 MILES ON ODOMETER, BUT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT SENSOR MAY HAVE GOTTEN HOT, SUGGESTING I HAD DRIVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. I TOOK EXCEPTION TO THIS, AS I RARELY EMPLOY THE E-BRAKE UNLESS I AM ON A VERY STEEP INCLINE, AND HAD NOT USED DURING THIS TRIP. REPAIR COST TOTALED OVER $700. COPY OF BILL ATTACHED. THIS OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, AS I WAS BEGINNING A MULTI-STATE TRIP.

NHTSA ID

11375286

Incident

Sep 8, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DROP OUT & THE ABS, STABILITY CONTROL & WHEEL SPEED SENSOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON.

NHTSA ID

11365920

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

22,000 mi

POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND CAR CRASHED. MERCEDES BENZ WALNUT CREEK CALIFORNIA REFUSED FREE REPAIR

NHTSA ID

11360999

Incident

Apr 12, 2017

Mileage

1,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR ON A SLIGHTLY BUMPY ROAD, THREE INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO SHOW PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS, ASR/BAS, AND EBD SYSTEMS. ACCORDING TO THE ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS THE ROOT PROBLEM IS A FAULTY RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THIS DESIGN SEEMS TO HAVE PUT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR IN A DANGEROUS POSITION EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, WHICH CAUSES IT TO DEGRADE AND STOP WORKING AT A HIGH RATE.

NHTSA ID

11348969

Incident

Jul 21, 2020

Mileage

45,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO SPEED SENSORS REPLACED, FIRST ONE IS THE LEFT REAR AT ONLY 10,385 MILES MAY 29TH 2020. THE SECOND ONE ON THE RIGHT REAR AT 10,615 MILES JULY 8TH 2020. DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THE SPRINTERS HAVING THIS ISSUE YET THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS ON THIS. AS OF THIS DATE TOTAL COST TO GET IT OPERATING SAFELY AGAIN IS $1018.93 ( PARTS AND LABOR ) WHEN THESE GO OUT THERE IS NO WARNING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH YOU THEN LOSE YOUR ABS BRAKING, TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS IT IS A KNOWN FACT AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT ANY TECHNICIAN CAN REPLACE THIS. ALL THIS HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION CITY DRIVING AND HIGHWAY DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11338230

Incident

Jul 8, 2020

Mileage

10,385 mi

AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED DOWN AND I NOTICED 3 YELLOW WARNING LIGHTS: ABS, ESP, ASR/BAS. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. I PHONED A MERCEDES DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT SOUNDED LIKE A FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THAT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE WITH CAUTION. A AUTHORIZED SPRINTER REPAIR CENTER DID DIAGNOSE THE REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. $345.00 LATER THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY SEE A LOT OF THESE. HE SAID THAT THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR HAS A NEW PART NUMBER WHICH TELLS HIM THAT IT HAS PROBABLY BEEN IMPROVED. I HOPE SO!

NHTSA ID

11331829

Incident

Jun 18, 2020

Mileage

32,400 mi

ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS OBVIOUSLY DISABLED ALL OF THE ABOVE FUNCTIONS. CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS VERIFIED TO BE A FAULTY LH WHEEL SPEED SENSOR BY THE REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328671

Incident

May 29, 2020

Mileage

8,450 mi

PROBLEM WITH SPEED SENSORS . I HAVE REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR ON MY VEHICLE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. MERCEDES BENZ SEEMS TO BE DOING NOTHINGS TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE BE CONCERNED THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS YOUR HELP WITH THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID

11308318

Incident

Mar 15, 2019

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDS-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS, ESP, AND BAS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN JOSE (3000 E CAPITOL EXPY, SAN JOSE, CA 95148, (408) 214-3009) WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT FROM WHEEL SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. *TR CONSUMER STATED FAILURES HAPPENED IN A PERIOD 0F 3 YEARS.*JB

NHTSA ID

11254223

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

23,000 mi

ON: CITY STREET, IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. UPON PULLING OFF FROM A DEAD STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING, THEN ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY. I COULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES. IF I HAD NOT MOVED THE GEAR SELECTOR TO NEUTRAL, I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ABS, ANTI-SKID, AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND I BARELY HAD ENOUGH POWER TO PULL OFF TO A SAFE PLACE. AFTER SITTING A FEW MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY WITH WHAT THEY CALLED AN "IMPROVED PART", BUT THERE ARE THREE MORE SPEED SENSORS. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11164250

Incident

Dec 26, 2018

Mileage

36,878 mi