Home · 2023 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 Crew Van (swb) · Complaints

What 17 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 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 (17)Crash / fire / injury (1)Engine (5)Fuel system (4)Transmission & drivetrain (4)Brakes (2)Steering (2)Driver assistance (1)Electrical system (1)Suspension (1)Visibility & wipers (1)Wheels (1)

4 of 17 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Oct 1, 2025EngineFuel system

I had tuned up my sprinter van around 64000 miles. I put new ngk spark plugs and ignition coils on it. Ran for a day then. The codes said the number one ignition coil was bad. Change that out and it ran for about 8000 miles. Then stated to go in lymph mode again. I decided to replace them with original Mercedes spark plugs and Ignition coils. But when I put them in the van had no power and was jerking. It was doing this before I changed them out. It had no power and would barely go up a hill. I researched and seen certain Merecedes Sprinter vans from 2021 to 2023. Had a recall on the fuel pump. But I don't understand why my van wasn't included. It's showing all the systems them the fuel pump or something to do with the fuel pump is going bad. I changed the spark plugs and ignition coils twice in less than 3 months.

NHTSA ODI 11690866

Aug 30, 2025EngineFuel system

In Colorado. Vehucle has no response when pushing on the gas pedal. Dead pedal at a light in Gunnison and now again at my home at 9,450 ft.

NHTSA ODI 11684056

Jul 15, 2025EngineFuel system

Occasionally, the idle speed of the engine will drop to 400 rpm. When this happens, the vehicle does not respond to throttle input. If it happens in a parking lot, you can shift into park and coax the rpm higher, then shift to drive and move on. When it happens in the middle of an intersection while waiting to make a left turn, the story is very different. You can end up in a very dangerous situation. This has happened to me multiple times. I have not had an accident, but I have upset other drivers when I failed to clear an intersection in a timely manner. Knowing that the car will move when you press on the accelerator is critical for safely operating a vehicle. I purchased the vehicle new in October 2024, but did not start driving it until February 2025. The first incident happened about a week after hitting the road. It has happened many times since then. It took me an embarrassingly long time (months) to realize the problem was a low idle. The symptom I observed was that the vehicle failed to respond to the accelerator. That is the symptom that people will notice and that is the symptom that should be matched. It can be scary when it happens. Now that I know that it is brought on by low idle, I can watch for it and be prepared, but it can still leave me in a bad situation.

NHTSA ODI 11673832

Jul 21, 2024Fuel system

I am writing to express my concern and seek assistance regarding a significant issue with my nearly new commercial vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500, purchased in 2023. The vehicle currently has 118,000 miles. Recently, I encountered problems with the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system. Upon taking the vehicle to the dealership where I originally purchased it, they conducted a diagnostic and informed me that the entire DEF system needs to be replaced, estimating the repair cost to be around $11,000 to $12,000. While I understand that repairs can be costly, my primary concern is that the dealership is not addressing the root cause of the problem but instead opting to replace the entire system without a thorough investigation. Given the relatively low mileage and age of the vehicle, this issue is both unexpected and concerning. I believe that such a significant problem with a critical system should be thoroughly investigated to determine if it is an isolated incident or indicative of a broader issue affecting similar models. I am requesting your assistance in the following ways: 1. Thorough Investigation: Ensure a comprehensive investigation is conducted to identify the specific cause of the DEF system failure. 2. Potential Recall: Evaluate whether this issue is widespread and, if so, consider initiating a recall campaign. 3. Repair Support: Provide support or coverage for the necessary repairs given the nature and extent of the issue. I have attached all relevant documentation, including the dealership’s diagnostic report and repair estimate. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

NHTSA ODI 11603630

Working with the data? Download all 17 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 2023 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 Crew Van (swb) verdict →