What 61 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 3500 Cargo Van

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 confirmed by dealer or independent service center, however the fact of such pipe getting hot, and nbeing related to the generator was recognized by the dealer. There were no warning lamps, warning stickers near the electronic start switch in the vehicle; no messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The design foreseeably exposes owners to fire risk, given owners only recognize the exhaust from the rear side of the vehicle; assume if the engine is off no exhaust heats up enough to start a grass or other fire. But, the majority of owners like myself do not know of any other exhaust outside of the vehicle is present. The shocking 12 inch proximity from the ground; at the rear of a 25 ft vehicle typically parking in car spaces with an overhang of the rear behind the rear wheels or a curb is a ridiculous fire risk to all owners, and the surrounding community. This is a design flaw still inherent in that same vehicle today,

NHTSA ODI 11691967

The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the ABS warning light and the electronic stability control warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the motorhome was making abnormal clunking sounds. The contact was able to continue to drive at less than 30 MPH. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that one of the wheels must have failed to patch the ground. The manufacturer advised the contact to turn the vehicle on and off three times using the ignition key for the warning lights to disappear. The contact stated that he did so and the warning lights and warning messages disappeared; however, they reappeared the next day. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH and towing his Volkswagen vehicle, the transmission disengaged and the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. Then the transmission reengaged and disengaged causing the vehicle to lurch forward. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle the failure reoccurred. The RV was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear axle speed sensors, knock sensors needed to be replaced, and the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V042000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) was completed. The contact also stated that the dealer cross-fired the speed sensors which caused the computer to not allow the vehicle to drive more than 35 MPH. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle leaned on his right side and crashed into a street sign. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, The warning lights reappeared and the vehicle leaned and hit the curb. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and offered the contract to trade the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

NHTSA ODI 11445998

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH A SCHOOL BUS TRAVELING NORTH AT 30 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED; HOWEVER, SEVERAL CHILDREN ON THE SCHOOL BUS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THREE STUDENTS SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE TO A LOCAL TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. *DT 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB *DT *TR *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11258988

WHILE DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SEND FIRE, SMOKE AND STEAM FROM THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT UNDER THE DASH BOARD AND OVER THE WIND SHIELD, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO STOP RUNNING AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL SENDING MY WIFE AND I DOWN A WINDING MOUNTAIN AND ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN A NEAR FATAL CRASH INTO A MOUNTAIN RETAINING WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THIS VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW WHEN PURCHASED BY US AND ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD WITH 4500 MILES (2325 MILES WERE PUT ON VEHICLE BY THE TRANSPORTER TO GET IT FROM FACTORY TO POINT OF SALE). *TR*DT*JB*DT*TR

NHTSA ODI 11079855

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE, AND THE CARGO SLIDING DOOR, HANDLES PINCH FINGERS. THE WAY THE HANDLE LATCH OPENS PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR FINGERS/HAND TO SLIDE INTO THE OPENING PART OF THE LATCH, AND GET SEVERELY PINCHED. BLEEDING WAS SOMEWHAT SEVER RECENTLY, WITH BLOOD STREAMING DOWN THE VEHICLE'S DOOR BODY. THE SKIN ON MY LEFT SMALL FINGERTIP WAS PINCHED ARE REMOVED, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL BLEEDING. I HAD TO OFTEN CHANGE THE BANDAGES TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, AND OCCURRED WHILE OPENING SLIDING CARGO DOOR LATCH

NHTSA ODI 11016161