The 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 202,671 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electronic stability control (esc). Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)21V0420002021-02-0348,667 affected
Defect
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit may become disabled on these vehicles.
Consequence
If ESC becomes disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-wheel speed sensor with a more robust sensor, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on March 10, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is NC3DREZAHA.
AIR BAGS17V4800002017-07-2817,609 affected
Defect
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012 Freightliner and Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled into the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash…
Consequence
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on January 12, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Note: This recall supersedes recall 17V-025.
AIR BAGS16V0770002016-02-10136,361 affected
Defect
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler Vans) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 31, 2008, 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2014, and 2010-2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500…
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Daimler Vans will notify the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners and Fiat Chrysler will notify the Dodge owners. The respective dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners may contact Daimler Van's customer…
Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model…
Consequence
If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy
Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438…
Complaints by component
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
AIR BAGS
4
1crashes1injuries1deaths
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
1crashes1fires1injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
POWER TRAIN
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
WHEELS
2
ENGINE
1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
1
Total complaints31
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“When starting the vehicle it may take several times turning the ignition switch to start the vehicle.it may start each time for weeks and then you might try 30 tomes before it would start again. If one had an emergency and needed to find a doctor quick you would be hoping that it would start. I…”
“On or about march 11th, I went to mercedes benz of 4000 n. Main street, gainesville fl. To schedule an appointment for the safety recall nhtsa campaign number 21v042000 on my 2012 sprinter 3500 ( vin wda pf4ca2c9519207,production date 04/12/2012). I met with michael potteiger, asst. Service…”
“The contact owns a 2012 mercedes-benz sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v042000 (electronic stability control) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet…”
“I( have owned this vehicle for 4 years and I cannot count the times it failed to start. When you tried to start it the engine never would turn over.some times I would try to start it for dozens of times before the engine would turn over. This could be s serious problem for senior people. I have…”
“A thor motor coach on a 2012 mercedes benz sprinter mdb 11k 170 16 0257554 chassis. On 4/17/2019 the def sensor failed on 05/18/2020 the left front wheel speed sensor failed. On 09/14/2020 the battery fault panel blew out. On 10/12/2020 the exhaust gas sensor failed. On 10/22/2020 the left rear…”
“A thor motor coach on a 2012 mercedes benz sprinter mdb 11k 170 16 0257554 chassis. On 4/17/2019 the def sensor failed on 05/18/2020 the left front wheel speed sensor failed. On 09/14/2020 the battery fault panel blew out. On 10/12/2020 the exhaust gas sensor failed. On 10/22/2020 the left rear…”
“A thor motor coach on a 2012 mercedes benz sprinter mdb 11k 170 16 0257554 chassis. On 4/17/2019 the def sensor failed on 05/18/2020 the left front wheel speed sensor failed. On 09/14/2020 the battery fault panel blew out. On 10/12/2020 the exhaust gas sensor failed. On 10/22/2020 the left rear…”
“My son christopher john lee howard was is tragic accident in dallas on sept 11,2020 and died as a result severe injuries internal injuries that lead to major bleeding of the stomach and upper torso.*dt*dt*jb”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE20014 Opened 2020-09-21 · closed 2021-03-30
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler) as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers to identify incidents related to Rear Wheel Speed Sensors (RWSS) failures. ODI's analysis identified 6,710 incidents of RWSS failure (unique VINs) in MY…
InvestigationPE20014 Opened 2020-09-21 · closed 2021-03-30
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler) as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers to identify incidents related to Rear Wheel Speed Sensors (RWSS) failures. ODI's analysis identified 6,710 incidents of RWSS failure (unique VINs) in MY…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.