What 23 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 15 Passenger Van

Technician detected a leak on the power steering cable on my Sprinter [XXX] that a previous recall for the same model year as mine but the VIN is not currently associated with the recall. The defect is apparently the same, however, I am required to pay the maintenance to fix it for $657 How can I get this to be covered or reimbursed by the recall? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11639108

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, he noticed fluid dripping from the vehicle. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the power steering hose was leaking. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V663000 (Steering) The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11514446

I NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE MB SPRINTER 2500 - YEAR 2015-2020 WITH A LEAKING POWER STEERING CLAMP/HOSE.(20V-663) MY VAN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL DESPITE BEING A 2015 MB SPRINTER 2500. I HAD THIS PART REPLACED ON MY VAN TWO WEEKS AGO. PLEASE DIG DEEPER INTO THE VANS AS THERE ARE OTHER VINS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT ARE NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVE BELT TOO AS THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING ON THAT BELT.

NHTSA ODI 11376369

ON THURSDAY JULY 9TH AFTER 9:00 PM, I WAS DRIVING UP ROUTE 8 IN VIRGINIA FROM NORTH CAROLINA AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. MY VAN HAS SUFFERED FROM SUBSTANTIAL NOISE AND VIBRATION BETWEEN 1600 AND 2000 RPM ON SLIGHT GRADES SINCE THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED IT. WITH JUST SHY OF 20,000 MILES ON THE VAN, MUCH OF IT GOING UP AND DOWN GRADES, IT IS MY PERCEPTION THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID HOSE VIBRATED LOSE. ALMOST 500 HOURS OF DRIVING, JUST SHY OF 20,000 MILES IN TEMPS THAT VARIED FROM LOWS OF 40 TO HIGHS OF 110, AND CONSISTENT VIBRATIONS DURING THE SPECIFIED RPM AND THE HOSE VIBRATED LOOSE AND LOST POWER. THE VIBRATIONS ARE A KNOWN ISSUE FOR SPRINTER 4X4'S AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE UNSUCCESSFULLY WITH DAMPENING AND THICKER LEAF SPRINGS. THIS REMAINS INEFFECTIVE AND NOW, DANGEROUS. I AM GRAVELY CONCERNED THAT OTHER ITEMS IN THIS 4X4 MODEL VAN COULD COME LOOSE, OR WORSE SOMEONE ON A MOUNTAIN PASS COULD LOSE CONTROL AS I DID AND CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. DUE TO THE 4X4 SYSTEM AND THE DESIRE OF IT'S OWNERS TO DRIVE TO REMOTE PLACES, I FEEL THIS WARRANTS AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION TO PROTECT THE OWNERS WHERE DIAMLER VANS HAS CLEARLY DECIDED NOT TO MANAGE IT'S SAFETY. IF ANYONE HAD COME DOWN THE SWITCHBACKS ON ROUTE 8, NEITHER OF US WOULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME OR SPACE TO AVOID AND ACCIDENT. I WAS INCREDIBLE LUCKY. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE ACROSS THE ROAD LINES TO MOVE THE VAN AS I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING. I FEARED FOR MY LIFE UNTIL I GOT TO THE TOP OF THE SWITCH BACK AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON RELATIVELY STRAIGHT FLAT GROUND. THE TRAILER I WAS TOWING SUFFERED AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO ARTICULATE THE VAN ON THE ROAD SUCH THAT IT DID NOT GO OFF THE ROAD AND HIT TREES AND EMBANKMENT.. .UPDATED 07/21/15 *BF.....UPDATED 08/12/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE VIBRATION ISSUE. ...UPDATED 9/24/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10734629