Mercedes-Benz bulletin LI35.00-N-080267_1

Sprinter 907 - Rear Axle Noise Diagnosis Best Practices Complaint Various noises from area of rear axle while driving Cause A: Howling Noises The high‑frequency howling noise is caused by the normal meshing behavior of the rear axle gear set, consisting of the pinion and crown gear. Two example noise recordings are provided in the attachment for reference. The volume and perception of this noise can vary depending on vehicle weight and load condition. Due to the current design of the Sprinter rear axle, it is not possible to completely isolate or decouple the the vibration generated by the normal meshing of the rear axle gears from the vehicle body. As a result, this noise may be transmitted into the vehicle interior. This noise is considered a normal characteristic of the rear axle design and vehicle operation. As it is not the result of a technical failure, component repairs or replacements will not lead to an improvement. There is no negative impact on the function, durability, service life, or operational safety of the rear axle. B: Other Noises: Noises that differ from the described howling characteristic (for example grinding, droning, or chattering noises) are not considered normal and may indicate a technical concern. Possible causes may include, but are not limited to: • Damaged bearings • Increased or abnormal gear wear • Excessive play within the differential Remedy Remedy for Cause A: Do not replace any components. This noise is considered a normal characteristic of the rear axle design and vehicle operation. Remedy for Cause B: If the noise does not match the described howling characteristic, the concern must be diagnosed and documented using the guidance below, with the results included in the warranty claim as applicable. Documentation of Concern: In many cases, the concern can be remedied using available replacement parts, and a complete rear axle assembly replacement is not necessary. However, due to parts availability, tool availability and workshop constraints, a complete assembly replacement may be performed in select cases to mitigate vehicle downtime. IMPORTANT: This is not intended to be the default repair approach. Component replacement must not be performed without diagnostic findings that clearly support a technical defect. Replacing rear axle components without confirmed abnormal findings may result in a debit of the warranty claim

Owners of the 7 model years this bulletin names have filed 389 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 55 of them name Power Train — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.

On the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the 14 owners who gave an odometer reading for Power Train reported it at a median of 24,000 miles. That figure is one model year’s, not the whole range this bulletin covers — medians from different model years are not averaged.