2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500, 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
- Electrical525.0%
- Driver assistance420.0%
- Brakes315.0%
- Airbags210.0%
- Body & structure210.0%
- Interior & seats15.0%
- Exterior lighting15.0%
- Other / unspecified15.0%
- Visibility15.0%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
See attached document for complaint.
We were driving on Rt. 32 north of Canaan Valley State Park in West Virginia. Suddenly the dashboard display began flickering on and off, displaying numerous multiple warning errors and alarms, and the windshield wipers began working and would not shut off. Turn signals would not function. Warning messages included instructions not to shift gears, lane keeping assist and automatic braking disabled, "Steering Malfunction", and many other errors. We have a partial video showing part on the incident. Dealer found evidence of corrosion on the Electronic Ignition System module, and sticking ignition on/off switch, which was indicated as the cause of the problem.
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
See attached document for complaint.
Mercedes Benz 3500 XL Sprinter motorhome, 2020 chassis. May 2023 MB did several recalls & software updates which MB USA headquarters said those changes could've affected the Cruise Control & Adaptive Cruise Control because these systems worked excellently until May '23, in my local MB Sprinter service. These systems have not worked more than 2% of the time. MB keeps changing items with no improvement. I told them to test on I-95 or The turnpike, as that's when we use it safely. Service tech said they're not allowed to test it there; we told them that's when it won't work, when we need it. Dozens of trips keep proving MB needs a permanent fix for the safety features we paid & need. I KEEP TRYING TO ADD MY 10 SECOND VIDEO CLIP BELOW BUT YOUR SITE WON'T TAKE IT. IT SHOWS the Cruise Control 3 blinking BLANK cursors on dash monitor where the mph Cruise miles #s setting should display. I showed this to my local MB service who sent video to MB USA HEADQUARTERS. Under my active Warranty they need to CHANGE the WHOLE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THESE bandaids are exhausting time & resources for all of us. Now their engineers say it could be the seat sensor. I've hamstring pain & need a seat cushion while driving. This EXCUSE is FAULTY like their FAULT CODES, as randomly I don't use my seat cushion & Cruise Control & thus Adaptive Cruise Control won't work. Thank you for your help! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that the message “Brake Assist Inoperable - See Owner’s Manual” message was displayed. The warning light remained illuminated for several miles before turning off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on three occasions, where it was diagnosed that there was a low sensor, approximately 1.5 centimeters, and the sensor was adjusted. The fault code displayed was C174AFB on two diagnostic tests. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. Additionally, the mechanic informed the contact to keep the front of the vehicle clean. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
The above are wouldn't allow me to place a check mark in the appropriate boxes. In the Standard Vehicle Components and ADAS sections, I was unable to check the boxes, but our vehicle contains ALL of the items in the first and second sections. The vehicle was dropped off at Lazy Days, Tampa on October 21, 2022 and so far they have been unable to provide an estimate or advise when we may receive our repaired motorhome. This dealer has a reputation for very poor follow-up. If you provide an email, I can send you the items to be checked. Despite going through two highway barriers at about 40 to 50 mph, the air bag system failed to deploy. The vehicle stopped as we ran into a fence at an angle of ten to fifteen percent. We luckily dodged five opportunities to be killed. My wife jumped out of the vehicle when it stopped and screamed so loud I could not believe it was her. I've been married 28 years and was shocked at her condition. I had to hold her to quiet her. The first hint of a problem was the brakes failed and the cruise control seemed to increase speed, but I'm not absolutely sure of this, but it felt like it. There are two Tiffin reps at Lazy Days, which I wrote about this, twice, and called leaving a message and they have not sought to get in touch with me. The supervisor, [XXX], of the intake service advisor, [XXX] said she would be in touch. I told her there was so much wrong, we understand if it took longer than her usual case. When it was about a month in, I called and discovered he no longer works there. They failed to assign someone to let us know of any progress. I called and left messages for [XXX] (Lazy Days employee) and wrote two emails and he also failed to get in touch, but he assigned [XXX] who called us asking what was wrong with our coach. I was beside myself. [XXX] failed to even read the invoice! I told her to read the invoice and call us back. Ran out of room. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
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 above are wouldn't allow me to place a check mark in the appropriate boxes. In the Standard Vehicle Components and ADAS sections, I was unable to check the boxes, but our vehicle contains ALL of the items in the first and second sections. The vehicle was dropped off at Lazy Days, Tampa on October 21, 2022 and so far they have been unable to provide an estimate or advise when we may receive our repaired motorhome. This dealer has a reputation for very poor follow-up. If you provide an email, I can send you the items to be checked. Despite going through two highway barriers at about 40 to 50 mph, the air bag system failed to deploy. The vehicle stopped as we ran into a fence at an angle of ten to fifteen percent. We luckily dodged five opportunities to be killed. My wife jumped out of the vehicle when it stopped and screamed so loud I could not believe it was her. I've been married 28 years and was shocked at her condition. I had to hold her to quiet her. The first hint of a problem was the brakes failed and the cruise control seemed to increase speed, but I'm not absolutely sure of this, but it felt like it. There are two Tiffin reps at Lazy Days, which I wrote about this, twice, and called leaving a message and they have not sought to get in touch with me. The supervisor, [XXX], of the intake service advisor, [XXX] said she would be in touch. I told her there was so much wrong, we understand if it took longer than her usual case. When it was about a month in, I called and discovered he no longer works there. They failed to assign someone to let us know of any progress. I called and left messages for [XXX] (Lazy Days employee) and wrote two emails and he also failed to get in touch, but he assigned [XXX] who called us asking what was wrong with our coach. I was beside myself. [XXX] failed to even read the invoice! I told her to read the invoice and call us back. Ran out of room. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2022 Midwest Automotive Passage MD4 RV built on the chassis of a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21V410000 (Electrical System, Air Bags) and 21V411000 (Electrical System, Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the cruise control and Forward Collision Avoidance would not activate as needed. The dealer was made aware of the recalls but informed the contact that appointments were not available until March 2022. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 125.
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 above are wouldn't allow me to place a check mark in the appropriate boxes. In the Standard Vehicle Components and ADAS sections, I was unable to check the boxes, but our vehicle contains ALL of the items in the first and second sections. The vehicle was dropped off at Lazy Days, Tampa on October 21, 2022 and so far they have been unable to provide an estimate or advise when we may receive our repaired motorhome. This dealer has a reputation for very poor follow-up. If you provide an email, I can send you the items to be checked. Despite going through two highway barriers at about 40 to 50 mph, the air bag system failed to deploy. The vehicle stopped as we ran into a fence at an angle of ten to fifteen percent. We luckily dodged five opportunities to be killed. My wife jumped out of the vehicle when it stopped and screamed so loud I could not believe it was her. I've been married 28 years and was shocked at her condition. I had to hold her to quiet her. The first hint of a problem was the brakes failed and the cruise control seemed to increase speed, but I'm not absolutely sure of this, but it felt like it. There are two Tiffin reps at Lazy Days, which I wrote about this, twice, and called leaving a message and they have not sought to get in touch with me. The supervisor, [XXX], of the intake service advisor, [XXX] said she would be in touch. I told her there was so much wrong, we understand if it took longer than her usual case. When it was about a month in, I called and discovered he no longer works there. They failed to assign someone to let us know of any progress. I called and left messages for [XXX] (Lazy Days employee) and wrote two emails and he also failed to get in touch, but he assigned [XXX] who called us asking what was wrong with our coach. I was beside myself. [XXX] failed to even read the invoice! I told her to read the invoice and call us back. Ran out of room. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2020 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 3500. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING A DEFECTIVE BACKUP CAMERA AND LANE WATCH. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BACK UP CAMERA/LANE WATCH WAS UNABLE TO BE SEEN IN THE DAYLIGHT, THE UPPER DOOR LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE, THE KITCHEN FAUCET LEAKED. THE TV NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MIRRORS WERE INSUFFICIENT IN ALLOWING THE CONSUMER TO VIEW WHAT IS BEING TOWED. THE CAMERA/RADIO WOULD NOT TURN OFF, BUT THIS WAS REPAIRED. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that the front and rear end tracks where the front driver’s and passenger's seats were mounted would cut his leg while entering or exiting the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the original dealer, Renegade RV (52216 IN-15, Bristol, IN 46507) where the RV was purchased. Renegade RV was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 800.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
We were driving on Rt. 32 north of Canaan Valley State Park in West Virginia. Suddenly the dashboard display began flickering on and off, displaying numerous multiple warning errors and alarms, and the windshield wipers began working and would not shut off. Turn signals would not function. Warning messages included instructions not to shift gears, lane keeping assist and automatic braking disabled, "Steering Malfunction", and many other errors. We have a partial video showing part on the incident. Dealer found evidence of corrosion on the Electronic Ignition System module, and sticking ignition on/off switch, which was indicated as the cause of the problem.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2021 Tiffin Wayfarer built on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V610000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The RV was then towed to an independent mechanic but was not repaired. 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 but provided no assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
We were driving on Rt. 32 north of Canaan Valley State Park in West Virginia. Suddenly the dashboard display began flickering on and off, displaying numerous multiple warning errors and alarms, and the windshield wipers began working and would not shut off. Turn signals would not function. Warning messages included instructions not to shift gears, lane keeping assist and automatic braking disabled, "Steering Malfunction", and many other errors. We have a partial video showing part on the incident. Dealer found evidence of corrosion on the Electronic Ignition System module, and sticking ignition on/off switch, which was indicated as the cause of the problem.
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 .