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2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Van
0 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
35 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls3 critical16
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA92
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a van; vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR are not certified for fuel economy by the EPA, so this page is built from NHTSA's recall, complaint and investigation records. NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 92 complaints, most often about the air bags.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

No EPA fuel-economy record: the EPA does not certify vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR. Recall, complaint and investigation data below come from NHTSA.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (16)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

NC3DREZAHA
48,667 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit may become disabled on these vehicles.RiskIf ESC becomes disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-wheel speed sensor with a more robust sensor, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on March 10, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is NC3DREZAHA.
NHTSA campaign 21V042000reported Feb 3, 2021Daimler Vans USA, LLC
▲high

Steering

NV3LETULPE
47,667 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The hydraulic power steering return line hoses may detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, causing hydraulic fluid to leak.RiskThe sudden loss of power steering assist and hydraulic steering fluid leaking onto the roadway may increase the risk of a crash.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the return line connections of the power steering system, correcting it as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this campaign is NV3LETULPE.
NHTSA campaign 20V663000reported Oct 28, 2020Daimler Vans USA, LLC
▲high

Air Bags

71,301 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the driver frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.RiskAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall is began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 19V003000reported Jan 8, 2019Daimler Vans USA, LLC
▲high

Air Bags

88,388 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.RiskAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 19V004000reported Jan 8, 2019Daimler Vans USA, LLC
○minor

Equipment

17 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vehicles, equipped with folding seats (sales code S20). The unloaded vehicle weight (UVW) label on these incomplete vehicles may be incorrect.RiskThe incorrect UVW label can result in final stage manufacturers exceeding the maximum vehicle weight once the vehicle is completed. A vehicle that exceeds its maximum weight has an increased risk of a crash.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the UVW label and inspect the vehicle to make sure that it is not overloaded, free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 18V113000reported Feb 15, 2018Daimler Vans USA, LLC
!critical

Equipment

550 vehicles
ProblemMidwest Automotive Designs, LLC (Midwest) is recalling certain Custom Vans and Camper Van recreational vehicles built on 2014-2017 Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis and 2016-2017 RAM Promaster chassis. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' fire extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.govRiskIn the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.FixMidwest will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fire extinguisher with a different brand, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2017. Owners may contact Kidde customer service for their replacement extinguisher at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information.
NHTSA campaign 17V786000reported Dec 8, 2017Midwest Automotive Designs, LLC
○minor

Equipment

2 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The label on the B-pillar may state a higher maximum vehicle load capacity than the vehicle is designed for. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."RiskIf the load capacity information is incorrect on the label, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the label and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 17V650000reported Oct 16, 2017Daimler Vans USA, LLC
!critical

Power Train

109 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500/3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles were manufactured without a driveshaft catch strap, allowing a loose driveshaft to strike the fuel tank.RiskA loose driveshaft may strike and puncture the gas tank, resulting in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install the missing catch strap for the driveshaft, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on November 17, 2017. The recall began on December 21, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 17V592000reported Sep 22, 2017Daimler Vans USA, LLC
○minor

Equipment

1,257 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with reinforced front axles. The affected vehicles have tire labels on the B-pillar that list a tire pressure that is too low.RiskOperating the vehicle with low front tire pressures may result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDVUSA will notify owners, Freightliner Sprinter and Mercedes-Benz dealers will check and replace the tire label, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 5, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 17V364000reported Jun 5, 2017Daimler Vans USA, LLC
!critical

Power Train

892 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The bracket for the center support bearing of the drive shaft may not have been properly welded.RiskIf the event of a crash, the bracket may detach and the drive shaft may damage the fuel system, increasing the risk of a fire.FixDVUSA will notify owners and dealers will install three additional rivets to secure the bracket, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on May 5, 2017. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 17V149000reported Mar 7, 2017Daimler Vans USA, LLC
▲high

Air Bags

15,338 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans. These vehicles were manufactured without a reinforcement plate and protective bracket on the air bag control unit. As a result, the air bag control unit may not remain functional after the initial impact, possibly preventing additional air bags from deploying in response to a secondary impact.RiskIf additional air bags do not deploy as intended, the occupants are at an increased risk of injury.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install a reinforcement plate and protective bracket around the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 17V093000reported Feb 10, 2017Daimler Vans USA, LLC
▲high

Seat Belts

28 vehicles
ProblemMidwest Automotive Designs, LLC (Midwest) is recalling certain model year 2016 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2016, to September 30, 2016, equipped with certain left side seat adjusters, model number 486077 manufactured by Atwood. The affected seat adjusters may allow the seats to move in the event of a crash. As such, these adjusters fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages", and 207 "Seating Systems."RiskIf the seat moves in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would be at an increased risk of injury.FixMidwest will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left slide track, free of charge. The recall began on December 22, 2016. Owners may contact Midwest customer service at 1-574-522-4878.
NHTSA campaign 16V853000reported Nov 28, 2016Midwest Automotive Designs, LLC
▲high

Seat Belts

271 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured March 1, 2016, to May 31, 2016. The bolts connecting the lower seat belt connection to the rear bench seat may not have been properly tightened.RiskIf the bolts were not properly tightened, the seat belt may fail to secure the seat occupant in the event of a crash.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and Sprinter dealers will inspect the connecting bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 16V670000reported Sep 15, 2016Daimler Vans USA, LLC
▲high

Structure

3 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2015, to April 30, 2016, and 2015-2016 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured May 1, 2015, to April 30, 2016. The affected vehicles are configured to have super-high roofs, but may not be equipped with the required crash pads.RiskIf the required crash pads are missing, it can increase the risk of injury to a front passenger seat occupant if they are unbelted.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install the required crash-pads, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 16V351000reported May 24, 2016Daimler Vans USA, LLC
▲high

Structure

55 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mercedes Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured April 1, 2015, to October 31, 2015. The affected vehicles may have had multiple layers of paint applied, and as a result, in a crash, the windows may separate from the vehicle when the outer layer of paint peels from the layer below.RiskIf the windows separate from the vehicle in a crash, the occupants are at a greater risk of injury.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will remove the windows and inspect the paintwork, repainting the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. This recall began August 4, 2016. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-770-705-2070.
NHTSA campaign 16V261000reported Apr 29, 2016Daimler Vans USA, LLC
○minor

Equipment

2,278 vehicles
ProblemDaimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans manufactured April 29, 2015, to December 15, 2015. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure label that incorrectly states a higher maximum load capacity than the vehicle is designed for.RiskThe vehicle may be overloaded if loaded to the incorrect weight shown on the label, possibly resulting in axle or tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner dealers will replace the incorrect tire pressure label, free of charge. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 16V093000reported Feb 18, 2016Daimler Vans USA, LLC

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Wheel Speed Sensor — Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure closed

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 moisture intrusion condition in the Sprinter 3500 5-ton variant, which accounts for 98 percent of upfit

Opened Sep 21, 2020 · closed Mar 30, 2021 · action PE20014

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
92complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 24 · 2020: 22 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Air Bags21
Vehicle Speed Control15
Power Train15
Electrical System12
Service Brakes12
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)12

What owners describe

“1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The engine/internal engine components and fuel injection system failed. was stated in video that fuel injector looked fine. cylinder #2, including a burnt valve and damage to the top of the piston. The Mercedes-Benz …”Sep 3, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“The door latch and or roller failed which prevents the door from closing properly. Since the door does not close all the way, there is the risk that it opens while driving. This is a recurring issue I have on this vehicle and triggered a lemon-law buyback.”Aug 14, 2026 · Structure · NHTSA owner report
“Unshielded rear-center generator exhaust pipe positioned with approx 12 in clearance above the ground, ignited the exterior of vehicle when generator operated, causing total loss. My safety as well as my pets was put at great risk due to this design and lack of shielding. The problem has not been reproduced of confirme…”Oct 7, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other Sprinter model years

A

2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

1 recalls · 2 complaints

D

2024 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

4 recalls · 16 complaints

F

2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

7 recalls · 36 complaints

F

2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

7 recalls · 49 complaints

F

2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

18 recalls · 62 complaints

F

2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

25 recalls · 103 complaints

F

2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

51 recalls · 115 complaints

F

2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

10 recalls · 25 complaints

F

2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

9 recalls · 41 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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