What 67 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 Cargo Van

SPRINTER VAN CAUGHT FIRE BURNING UP THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. VAN WAS SERVICED A WEEK PRIOR TO FIRE FOR AN ISSUE WITH THE A/C BY MERCEDES BENZ OF JACKSONVILLE. VAN WAS DRIVEN DAILY AFTER SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. ONCE IT WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT (CHURCH/SCHOOL LOT) IT BURST INTO FLAMES. DRIVER AND TWO CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE JUST BEFORE IT BURST INTO FLAMES. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT THE TIME OR WASN'T BEING PARKED, THE VAN COULD HAVE BURNED OR KILLED THE DRIVER AND CHILDREN INSIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11404373

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V055000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE GEARS HOWEVER, THE GAUGES FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2019 ##

NHTSA ODI 11402606

THE VEHICLE HAS SOME EMERGENCY STEERING CONTROL THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY BUILT IN. IF YOU GO OUTSIDE OF THE LANES, IT NOT ONLY STEERS YOU BACK TO WITHIN THE LANES, BUT ALSO SLAMS ON THE BRAKES. IT IS AUTOMATICALLY ON. IT CAN BE SHIFTED OFF EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, BUT IT IS A DEFAULT SETTING. THIS HAS PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN APPROXIMATELY 5 SITUATIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FOUR MONTHS AGO. TO ILLUSTRATE IT: WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. AT TIMES IN CONSTRUCTION/WORK ZONES, THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC FORCES YOU OUTSIDE OF THE LINES FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. HOWEVER, THE VAN TRIED TO FORCE US BACK "INTO THE LINES" MULTIPLE TIMES, IN CONSTRUCTION, AT NIGHT, WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES. IT ACTUALLY FORCED OUR VEHICLE BACK ACROSS THE LINE AND INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN MULTIPLE SCENARIOS. THIS IS A CASE OF AN AUTOMATIC "SAFETY" SETTING GONE WRONG. IT IS HIGHLY, HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO HAVE IT AUTOMATICALLY DO THIS, WHETHER IT'S DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SAME DIRECTION TRAFFIC, CONSTRUCTION OBSTACLES OR EVEN SWERVING TO AVOID DEBRIS OR ANIMALS. THIS LANE ASSIST MUST BE DISABLED TO ALLOW FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE.*DT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11362197

THIS SAFETY INCIDENT REPORT APPLIES TO ALL 2019+ SPRINTER 1500/2500/3500 WITH THE 4X4 DRIVETRAIN (HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM), IT DOES NOT APPLY TO 2WD MODELS WITH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACKS. THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE PS RESERVOIR TO THE PS COOLING ELEMENT LOCATED AHEAD OF THE RADIATOR IN THE FRONT GRILLE IS SECURED BY A WORM DRIVE CLAMP AT THE RESERVOIR SIDE AND A SPRING CLAMP AT THE COOLING ELEMENT SIDE. THE LOWER PS HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE COOLING ELEMENT TO THE HARDLINE WHICH BOLTS IN TO THE HYDRAULIC STEERING RACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS SECURED WITH A SPRING CLAMP ON THE COOLING ELEMENT SIDE AND A SWAGED CONNECTION ON THE HARDLINE SIDE. THIS SAFETY INCIDENT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS LOWER PS HOSE CONNECTION. THE HOSE IS TOO SHORT FROM THE FACTORY, AND IS TAUT BETWEEN THE COOLING ELEMENT SPRING CLAMP AND HARDLINE SWAGED CONNECTION. OVER TIME, WITH NORMAL DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATIONS & ENGINE BAY HEAT CYCLING, THE LOWER PS HOSE WILL BACK OFF THE COOLING ELEMENT UNTIL IT FALLS OFF AND PS FLUID IS DUMPED IN THE ENGINE BAY. THIS MAKES THIS HEAVY FULL SIZE VAN INSTANTLY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HOSE BLEW OFF ON MY VAN AT 9500MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AS I WAS EXITING A FREEWAY ONTO A CURVING OFFRAMP. HAD I NOT BEEN AWARE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE I MIGHT NOT HAVE CAUGHT IT IN TIME... AT SPEED, ON A WINDING ROAD, WITH A CLIFF / DROP OFF NEARBY THIS COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS IF THE DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO OVERCOME THE SUDDENLY VERY HEAVY STEERING EFFORT. THE SOLUTION IS A SIMPLE ONE. THE LOWER PS HOSE JUST NEEDS TO BE 1-2" LONGER SO THAT IT IS NOT TAUT BETWEEN THE TWO CONNECTIONS. TO DATE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS HAVE ONLY REMEDIED TO THE PROBLEM BY ADDING A WORM DRIVE CLAMP IN PLACE OF THE SPRING CLAMP. THIS IS A POOR TEMPORARY FIX AND DOES NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE THAT THE HOSE IS SIMPLY TOO SHORT AS MANUFACTURED.

NHTSA ODI 11355040

POWER STEERING HOSE IS COMING LOOSE. IT IS ABOUT HALFWAY OFF. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE COMING OFF COMPLETELY ON FACEBOOK GROUP FOR SPRINTER CAMPER VANS.THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON I SAW IT. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO FIX WITH A STRONGER CLAMP BEFORE IT CAME OFF. WHEN THE HOSE DOES COME LOOSE IT RESULTS IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. THIS IS A 8,000LB VAN. WOULD BE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENED AT THE WRONG TIME. LINK FOR REFERENCE: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WINNEBAGO4X4/PERMALINK/1587076018139245

NHTSA ODI 11351237

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE HOSE CONNECTING THE RESERVOIR HAD DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER CAROUSEL MOTORS (809 IA-1, IOWA CITY, IA 52244, (319) 354-2550) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE SAME CLAMP WAS REATTACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11350871

AS IS NOW COMMONLY BEING REPORTED WITH THESE VEHICLES, THE LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP IS INADEQUATE AND THE HOSE IS SLIPPING OFF THE PUMP. THIS WOULD LEAD TO A TOTAL LOSE OF POWER STEERING. THIS WAS PURCHASED NEW AND NOW HAS 5000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11350932

POWER STEERING HOSE IS COMING OFF. LOWER HOSE ONLY. CHECKED THIS AS IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT FILED BY OTHER WINNEABAGO REVEL OWNERS. OTHERS HAVE HAD THEIRS COME OFF COMPLETELY AND LOST THEIR POWER STEERING. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS I TRAVEL. HOSE IS TOO SHORT!

NHTSA ODI 11350296

I BOUGHT MY WINNEBAGO REVEL 4 WEEKS AGO, 200 MILES WERE ON IT FROM THE DEALER, LAMESA RV IN PHOENIX, AZ. AFTER PUTTING 2,000 MILES ON IT, I WAS NOTIFIED BY MEMBERS OF A REVEL GROUP TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING HOSES, AS THE FACTORY CLAMPS DO NOT HOLD THE BOTTOM HOSE ON. WENT OUT, CHECKED THE HOSES AND THE BOTTOM HOSE HAD ALREADY STARTED BACKING OFF. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH WINNEBAGO REVELS, AS I HAVE KNOWN OTHERS TO SUFFER FROM THE HOSE COMING OFF WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11349774

LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE DETACHING FROM COOLER POTENTIALLY CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAVE 23 MILES ON THE VAN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS SPRINTER FORUMS.

NHTSA ODI 11348993

THIS AFTERNOON (2020-08-09) THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON MY VAN FAILED. NO WARNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. JUST A SUDDEN DESIRE TO NOT WANT TO GO ROUND A CORNER AND PLOW STRAIGHT ON JUST AS I WAS ENTERING A TWISTY MOUNTAIN CANYON WITH PRECIPITOUS DROPS (LEE HILL DR, BOULDER, CO). LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE CURVE (AT THE LIMIT OF MY ARM STRENGTH) AND NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD. MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD IT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. ONCE I REALIZED I LOST POWER ASSISTANCE, I WAS ABLE TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK HOME. I'M NOT SURE THIS IS A BLESSING BUT I'M SO HAPPY IT FAILED RIGHT AT THE START OF THE CANYON AND NOT WHEN THERE WAS A 500FT DROP BESIDE ME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN HOME, AS I WAS JUST PHYSICALLY STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO NAVIGATE INTERSECTIONS HOWEVER, IT WAS A CLOSE CALL TO NEEDING A TOW TRUCK. ON TWISTY ROADS THE VAN IS ESSENTIALLY UNDERIVABLE. ONCE SAFELY PARKED I NOTICED FLUID POOLING UNDER THE VAN AND IT HAS SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE BAY SO THIS LOOKED LIKE A HYDRAULIC HOSE OR CLAMP FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11344196

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SOME SORT OF WIND SHEER WARNING SYSTEM THAT DETECTS CROSS WINDS AND SUDDENLY SLAMS ON THE BRAKES, WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT ON I-40 IN ARIZONA AT 75 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL, AND WAS PASSING A TRUCK IN THE LEFT LANE. IT WAS A SOMEWHAT WINDY DAY, BUT I WAS DEALING WITH THE WIND AS ANY NORMAL DRIVER WOULD DO, BY STEERING INTO THE WIND A BIT, AND DEALING WITH GUSTS AS THEY AROSE. AS SOON AS THE NOSE OF MY VEHICLE PASSED THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK, MY VAN SUDDENLY BRAKED WITHOUT WARNING. I DID NOT EXPECT IT AND THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT EITHER. I SUDDENLY GRABBED THE WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS, AND TRIED TO CORRECT THE STEERING, NOT KNOWING WHAT WHAT GOING ON, AND NEARLY VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE VAN SWERVED NEXT TO THIS TRUCK, RIGHT TO LEFT IN THE LANE, AND I BATTLED TO REGAIN CONTROL WHEN THIS UNEXPECTED SUDDEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES RANDOMLY HAPPENED THAT I DID NOT DO. THIS SUDDEN BRAKE-SLAMMING OCCURRED AT LEAST 5 MORE TIMES IN THIS 4 HOUR TRIP. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T EXPECT AND WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND CONVERSING WITH SOMEONE AND SUDDENLY THE BRAKES ARE SHARPLY APPLIED WHILE YOU ARE ON CRUISE CONTROL, WITHOUT ANY SORT OF WARNING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM. I CALLED MERCEDES AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO TURN THIS FEATURE OFF, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND MORE OR LESS IMPLIED THAT WE HAD TO "LIVE WITH IT". THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY OTHER DRIVERS THAT ROUTINELY DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AS WELL. AND HE REACTED IN THE SAME VIOLENT WAY THAT I DID, TRYING TO OVERCOMPENSATE FOR THIS SUDDEN AND UNPLANNED BRAKING. THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE FOR SURE IF WE CANNOT GET IT TURNED OFF. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS FEATURE TO HAVE ON A VEHICLE!.

NHTSA ODI 11341715

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, WHEN HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND SAW THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAD EXPLODED ON IT'S OWN. THE CONTACT STATED HE SUSTAINED A CUT ON HIS LEFT FOOT BUT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED AND HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF LOVELAND (4040 BYRD DR, LOVELAND, CO 80538, (970) 344-4206,). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OF REPAIRED AS OF YET. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V507000 (VISIBILITY), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200.

NHTSA ODI 11340413

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED HE DETECTED AN ABNORMAL ODOR INSIDE OF THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED HE SUFFERED FROM HEADACHES WHEN INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE CENTER (1480 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103) WHERE THEY SENT THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP TO HAVE BOTH REAR DOORS ADJUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED HE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED HE SAW COOLANT LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTOBAHN MOTORS (700 ISLAND PKWY, BELMONT, CA 94002) WHERE THEY ADJUSTED BOTH REAR DOORS AND ADJUSTED THE RADIATOR HOSE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED REGARDING THE LEAK BUT THE DOORS WERE STILL FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ODI 11322752

NEW PURCHASE 02-29-2020; THE MERCEDES SPRINTER 2500 THAT WAS UPFITTED BY AIRSTREAM INTO THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATE NINETEEN. I DROVE ABOUT 60 MILES AND WHEN BACKING FROM A PARKING SPOT I FELT A SUDDEN GRAB/JOLT FROM THE RIGHT FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE AS IF BACKED OVER A DOG/CHILD. THANKFULLY NOTHING. THREE MORE TIMES THIS OCCURRED OVER TWO DAYS BUT W/O FINDING A CAUSE I CHOSE TO DRIVE 800 MILES TO SEATTLE FROM CALIFORNIA VIA I-5. ABOUT 40 MILES ENROUTE I WAS GOING 70 MPH ON A STRAIGHT, SLIGHT DOWNGRADE STRETCH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY GRABBED TO THE RIGHT WITH A SHORT/ABRUPT JERK ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS WAS THE SAME AS THE BACKWARD BUT NOW FORWARD AND FRIGHTENING. FORTUNATELY I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL WITH A FIRM GRIP DUE TO THE UNFAMILIAR DARK ROADWAY AND DOWNGRADE STRETCH. THIS OCCURRED FIVE OTHER TIMES OVER THE NEXT 70-100 MILES AT A REDUCED SPEED OF 40-50 WITH A FIRM GRIP ON THE WHEEL AND EXPECTING IT SO I STAYED IN THE FAR LEFT LANE TO AVOID GOING OFF THE ROADWAY ON THE RIGHT. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RESUMED THE DRIVE AT ABOUT 40-50 MPH AND FELT THE SAME GRAB INTERMITTENTLY. I CALLED MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSIST THROUGH THE VEHICLES ELECTRONIC CONNECTIONS ON THE NAV/MEDIA SCREEN AND THEY PROMPTED ME THROUGH DEACTIVATING THE BRAKE ASSIST. I DEACTIVATED ALL THE OTHER SENSOR DEVICES LIKE LANE ASSIST, PARKTRONICS ETC THAT I COULD FIND TO BE AS SURE AS POSSIBLE IT WAS NOT GOING TO OCCUR AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THESE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS REACTIVATE EACH TIME YOU TURN THE IGNITION OFF SO I HAD TO REMEMBER TO DO THAT PRIOR TO DRIVING EACH TIME I STOPPED. I DROVE THE 800 MILES HOME W/O THE SENSORS ACTIVE AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR. AIRSTREAM'S UPFIT MAKES IT LESS STABLE AND THE WEIGHT NOW ABOUT 10,000-13-000 POUNDS VERY DANGEROUS. IF CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED MUCH MORE OF A PROBLEM OR WINDING ROADS. I'M A RETIRED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND IT SCARED ME; NEEDS INVESTIGATED SOON.

NHTSA ODI 11317084

SRS FRONT LEFT WARNING LIGHT ON FOR AIRBAG AND SEATBELT

NHTSA ODI 11315341

IT IS BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING A STRANGE SOUND IS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, I WENT BACK TO DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT IS AN MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON DRIVER SHAFT AND BEARINGS. NO PARTS AVAILABLE SO FAR AND THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ANOTHER NEW VEHICLE, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE LOAN VEHICLE EITHER. I AM STUCK AND CAN DO NOTHING INSTEAD MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR NO VEHICLE!

NHTSA ODI 11187346