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

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

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