Home · 2016 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 Crew Van (swb) · Complaints

What 27 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 Crew Van (swb)

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (27)Crash / fire / injury (1)Airbags (9)Speed control (5)Brakes (3)Electrical system (3)Engine (3)Seat belts (3)Steering (3)Body & structure (2)Wheels (2)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (1)

3 of 27 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Nov 15, 2021Speed controlBrakes

There is a known issue and recall for wheel speed sensors on Mercedes Sprinter 3500 models. However, this same issue applied to 2500 models also. Along with other RV owners, I have just experienced this problem. I was in city traffic when all the sudden multiple warning lights came on: "ESP, visit workshop", "Brake force distribution, visit workshop", ABS warning light, ESP, warning light, collision prevention malfunction warning light, check engine light with fault code U0416. The presence of all these errors, beeping, red messages sounds extremely scary to any driver. The fact that it says brake force distribution isn't working properly suggests a hazardous condition that could lead to a crash if brakes are not working properly. Since this is being caused by a failing wheel speed sensor, these should all be replaced and the recall expanded to include other models like mine.

NHTSA ODI 11440448

Nov 22, 2020Speed controlWheelsBrakes

THE WHEEL SENSORS ON THIS VEHICLE ROUTINELY FAIL. WHEN THEY FAIL AT HIGH SPEEDS(FREEWAY DRIVING) THE CRUISE CONTROL, ABS, STABILITY CONTROL, 4WD IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. IF IT FAILS AT START UP, ALL THE SAME SYSTEMS ARE EFFECTED IN ADDITION YOU CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER 30MPH, IT WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, IT WILL SURGE ALSO. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES TWICE A YEAR. EACH WHEEL SENSOR HAS FAILED, SOME TWICE.

NHTSA ODI 11375781

Dec 25, 2019AirbagsSeat beltsBrakes

MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES FOR OVER A YEAR TO FIX MY AIRBAGS PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH NO ACCIDENT. JUST DRIVING ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR IT EMPLOYED AT OF NOW NOWHERE BUT AIRBAG DIDN'T COME OUT

NHTSA ODI 11291145

Working with the data? Download all 27 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 Crew Van (swb) verdict →