Home · 2024 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 Crew Van (swb) · Complaints

What 12 owners told NHTSA about the 2024 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 (12)Crash / fire / injury (1)Brakes (3)Electrical system (2)Seat belts (2)Transmission & drivetrain (2)Driver assistance (1)Engine (1)Fuel system (1)Service Brakes, Air (1)Visibility & wipers (1)

Newest first · 12 complaints

Jun 27, 2026Seat belts

My vehicle was inspected and it was found that the seatbelt B-pillar anchor bolt was stripped at the factory. This problem seems widespread online.

NHTSA ODI 11746883

Jun 17, 2026

Second alternator has gone bad twice. Went to Van conversions in Utah and had system completely replaced

NHTSA ODI 11744858

Apr 30, 2026Seat belts

I removed the drive side seat belt bolt in order to remove the pillar it is mounted to and found the bolt extremely hard to turn and ultimately somewhat stripped upon removal. The bolt remains defiant in re-installation procedure. The passenger side was removed without stripping but did attempt to cross-thread itself upon re-installation which was remedied by simple hand threading. Safety put at risk in that these seat belt bolts and their installation process may not restrain passengers in an accident. Not confirmed by dealer or service center - pictures should be self evident. The component hasn't been inspected by any party - I'm just going to buy a new bolt and re-tap the hole it was installed in. No warning lights for this isssue.

NHTSA ODI 11734858

Apr 23, 2026Electrical systemBrakes

2024 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 experienced unusually rapid brake, tire, and battery wear at low mileage. Front brakes required replacement at approximately 29,000 miles. Rear brakes were already worn low by approximately 37,000 miles. Rear tires required replacement by approximately 37,000 miles. Vehicle battery also failed and required replacement before approximately 37,000 miles. Vehicle had earlier emissions/sensor related repairs as well. This creates safety concerns because premature brake wear can reduce stopping ability and increase stopping distance. Premature tire wear can reduce traction, especially in rain, and increase risk of tire failure or blowout. Unexpected battery failure can disable the vehicle without warning in traffic or roadside conditions. Vehicle is used in normal commercial delivery service and is generally not heavily loaded. I have owned and operated multiple prior Sprinter vans over many years, and previous model years achieved substantially longer brake, tire, and battery life under similar or heavier use. A newer comparable fleet vehicle with similar mileage has not required these repairs. The issue appears abnormal compared with prior ownership experience and may indicate brake system drag, an alignment issue, defective components, battery charging issue, or another unresolved defect. Vehicle has been serviced by dealer and components were replaced, but premature wear remains the concern. In addition, rear brake wear occurring this early suggests possible imbalance or excessive brake application that should be investigated. Rapid tire wear combined with brake wear may indicate alignment or braking system issues affecting vehicle control and safety. I am submitting this complaint so the condition can be reviewed for potential defect trends affecting other similar vehicles. Defective parts may be available from prior repairs depending on service center retention.

NHTSA ODI 11733239

Mar 20, 2026Electrical system

Vehicle: 2024 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 148,000 The vehicle is experiencing a serious safety-related defect where the starter motor remains engaged even after the engine is turned off. This results in the starter continuing to run and stay powered, which can cause severe mechanical damage, overheating, and presents a potential fire risk. The starter has already been replaced, but the issue persists, indicating the problem is within the vehicle’s electrical control system (such as wiring harness, relay, or control module). Additionally, I was informed that this same vehicle had a prior wire harness-related issue in 2024 under the previous owner, suggesting a recurring or unresolved electrical defect. This condition can lead to unexpected vehicle behavior and poses a safety hazard due to the risk of electrical failure or fire. The vehicle is currently at a Mercedes-Benz dealership for diagnosis, and a case has been opened with Mercedes-Benz USA under case #XXX. I am submitting this complaint to report a potential safety defect and request investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11725922

Mar 15, 2026Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

Complaint Description I am filing this complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding a safety issue with my new Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500. I purchased this vehicle brand new from Mercedes Benz Manhattan. From the first day of ownership, I began experiencing multiple serious problems with the van. The main issue is that exhaust smoke and/or crankcase gases enter the cabin while driving. In addition, the vehicle experiences strong vibrations and the transmission frequently kicks or shifts abruptly. On several occasions this issue has caused the engine to stall while driving. (Traffic light stop) These problems create a potentially dangerous situation and make the vehicle unsafe to operate. The dealership, Mercedes Benz Manhattan, has attempted to repair the vehicle many times, but the problems persist and have not been resolved. Because of the ongoing safety risks, I believe this issue should be investigated.

NHTSA ODI 11724480

Oct 18, 2025

Yes the wind assist in my opinion is more dangerous than dealing with the wind itself. No safe!

NHTSA ODI 11694317

Oct 14, 2025BrakesDriver assistance

The van has a cross wind assist mode. When it activates it aggressively activates only one front wheel brake so dramatically that the van dives down and swerves out of the lane into the adjacent lane. The front wheel happened to be on wet pavement and it was chattering from braking so hard and not getting traction. I passed a slower motorcycle on the road and the crosswind assist almost caused me to run him off the road. The problem has not been reported to the dealer because i have read on several forums that dealers wont do anything about it. many people are complaining about this and it happens without warning. the problem started as soon as I bought the van, it now has 10,000 miles on it. This is a feature that is included with the van. When the dashboard lights do come on when the cross wind assist activates. No other warnings nor is thier any warning before the wind assist activates. Thanks for reading my concern

NHTSA ODI 11693227

Jun 11, 2025Fire

Our 2024 Sprinter Van, manufactured in 2023, with less than 10,000 miles caught fire in the engine compart shortly after my wife picking me up at the airport.

NHTSA ODI 11666356

May 5, 2025Visibility & wipers

The driver and passenger side mirror glass on 2024 Sprinter 144" Awd Passenger Van shakes violently while driving at any speed over 50mph. This creates a safety issue where it is nearly impossible to judge the type and speed of vehicle that is in your side mirror view. The Mercedes Benz dealership has been asked to investigate the issue but has stated, "Everything is secure, shakes and rattles are inherent to these vans." This response is unacceptable given the public and personal safety risk associated with decreased visibility in such a large vehicle. There is additional anecdotal evidence of this problem spanning multiple production years on online forums dedicated to Sprinter van ownership experiences. This information and a potential remedy of investigating and replacing an improperly installed rivet nut, has been provided to the Mercedes-Benz Baton Rouge dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11659088

Jul 30, 2024Service Brakes, AirBrakes

The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 65-70 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact attempted to depress the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle revved but failed to respond. The contact was able to pull to the side of the emergency lane. The contact had called the dealer at that point who advised the contact to turn off the vehicle and lock the vehicle, then reopen and restart the vehicle to reset the computer system. The contact completed the instructions, and the failure did not reoccur. The contact stated that approximately 2 to 3 months later while driving approximately 60-65 MPH, the ABS suddenly activated causing the vehicle to stop unintendedly. The instrument panel displayed that the vehicle had detected an object nearby, causing the brake assist to activate and then go completely black. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal causing the vehicle to accelerate abruptly. The dealer had not been contacted. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 5,000.

NHTSA ODI 11605374

Mar 24, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

The drive shaft to front differential (part # A9070410-09-00) in MY23 and MY24 Sprinter AWD has structural flaw in the sense that: (1) it is so short that the shaft can easily fall off during normal road conditions. (2) the clip and O-ring to secure the A9070410-09-00 is not strong enough to handle the normal stress of this driver shaft. If A9070410-09-00 falls off, severe vibration occurs and the Sprinter can only drive 2mile/hour or even stop functioning. There is a good chance that the driver can get stuck in the middle of nowhere without the reach to any help. This is a SERIOUS design failure and needs to have a recall and permanent fix ASAP! For more information, pls refer to this Youtube video by [XXX]: [XXX] My brand-new van only has 2600 miles on it and there is no offroad at all. The front drive shaft is almost completely falling off and it sits in a MB dealer for repair now. Pls address this serious safety risk ASAP! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11579185

Working with the data? Download all 12 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 2024 Mercedes-benz Sprinter 2500 Crew Van (swb) verdict →