What 38 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 12 Passenger Van

The contact owned a 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud pop was heard, and noticed there was smoke coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was a Sprinter van driver. The contact pulled the vehicle over and had the passengers located in the vehicle exit the vehicle. The contact stated that the engine had caught on fire. The vehicle was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was not filed, however, the cause for the failure was not yet determined. A police report was not filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.

NHTSA ODI 11629637

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated while driving at 35-40 MPH, he saw smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated as he veered to the side of the road, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that they were unable to diagnose the vehicle. Then the vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11437380

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 5 MILES, PARKED AND NOT RUNNING, ABOUT 2.5HRS LATER FIRE STARTED ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE / UNDERCARRIAGE. FUEL TANK CAUGHT FIRE. NO PRIOR RUNNING DEFECTS. STARTING POINT FOR THE FIRE APPEARS AT OR NEXT TO FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT SIDE WITH THE FIRST FLAMES VISIBLE UP THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HOUSING WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND THIS ETCHED IN AN ARC SHAPE ABOVE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. INSIDE VEHICLE NO PERSONAL ITEMS OR AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS. FIRE SPOTTED APPROXIMATELY 3:15 - 3:17 EASTERN TIME, WEATHER TEMPS IN MID 70S. THIS WAS A HIGH TOP 12 PASSENGER MODEL 144" WHEELBASE WITH AUXILIARY AIR AND HEAT OPTIONS. NO OCCUPANTS AND NO INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI 11355724

EVENT DATA RECORDER MISSING FROM SPRINTERS. I WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH SPEED CRASH. I WON'T GO INTO DETAILS AT THIS TIME PENDING THE INVESTIGATIONS. BUT I LEARNED THAT THERE IS NO "EDR" EVENT DATA RECORDERS ON THE SPRINTERS. WHEN I LEARNED OF THESE AND WHAT THEY DO IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT MERCEDES ELECTED TO NOT INSTALL ONE ON THESE VEHICLES. FOR ME PERSONALLY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VALUABLE INFORMATION TO KNOW WHAT WHEN ON IN THE SECONDS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. NOT SURE THIS WILL COME TO ANYTHING BUT I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT ALL VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE THESE ITEMS. THEY ASSIST HELPING BOTH THE PERSON INVOLVED IN THE CRASH BY LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT IF ANYTHING THEY DID TO AVOID THE CRASH AS WELL AS HELPING THE POLICE ESTABLISH WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 10908843

THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VAN WHILE STILL AT THE DEALER A WARNING CHIME CAME ON AND NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG THEN IT FINALLY WENT AWAY BY ITSELF. THAT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT LAST AUGUST. I TOOK IT TO TWO MERCEDES DEALERS BUT NO USE. I ALSO EXPERIENCED A DRASTIC DROP IN FUEL MILEAGE IT SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM AROUND 19 TO 13.5 MPG AT THAT TIME I NOTICED GRINDING NOISE ALL THAT WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. ON 2/27/2015 AT 2:15 AM A LOUD KNOCK ON THE DOOR WOKE US UP THE PERSON WAS AN UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER THAT HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING BY TOLD US TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE VAN IN THE DRIVEWAY WAS ON FIRE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED THE WHOLE VAN HAD BURNED AND THE HOUSE ALSO CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10695197