2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500

Typical pattern

5.2% of complaints about the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2020 vehicle — around the middle of the 178 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 2.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (21 complaints), typically at 2.3 yr or about 10,000 miles.

Complaints: 134
Median age at failure: 2.7 yr
Median mileage: 3,400 n=37
Crash / fire / tow: 4.5% of reports
Safety recalls: 10

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

24V930000 2024-12-13

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster illumination may not be adjustable and appear too bright in certain lighting conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."

A display that is too bright can make it difficult for the driver to see critical safety information, increasing the risk of a crash.

23V875000 2023-12-21

Structure:critical fasteners

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The longitudinal frame members may be missing reinforcement fasteners, reducing vehicle stability and decreasing the structural integrity of the third-row seats.

Reduced stability increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, the third-row seat mountings can fail, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

23V876000 2023-12-21

Structure:critical fasteners

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The partition wall may be missing bolts, allowing the wall to detach during a crash.

A detached partition wall can increase the risk of injury.

23V874000 2023-12-21

Structure:body

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The connection between the propeller shaft bearing and crossmember may loosen, reducing vehicle control.

Reduced vehicle control increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, the propeller shaft may damage the fuel tank during a crash, causing a leak and increasing the risk of a fire.

23V204000 2023-03-24

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.

A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.

22V796000 2022-10-21

Power train:automatic transmission:internal:park pawl

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with a manual parking brake and 7-speed automatic transmission. The guide bushing on the parking pawl may fatigue, which can cause the parking pawl not to engage and result in vehicle rollaway.

Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.

22V360000 2022-05-20

Electrical system:software

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Metris, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

22V281000 2022-04-27

Back over prevention:display function

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

21V972000 2021-12-15

Electrical system:software

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. A software error in the park lock system may allow the vehicle to move after the gear selector has been placed in the Park 'P' position without the parking brake applied.

Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

21V411000 2021-06-02

Electrical system:software

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

In owners’ own words

Power train 9,000 mi 1.5 yr in service

VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNCHARACTERISTICALLY SLOWLY UPON COLD START IN COLD TEMPERATURES / HIGH ELEVATION. MANY DOCUMENTED CASES IN PREVIOUS AND CURRENT MODEL SPRINTER WHICH USES THE SAME OM642 DIESEL ENGINE. HTTPS://SPRINTER-SOURCE.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/71254/ THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE I TRIED TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION OR MAKE A LEFT ACROSS A HIGHWAY UPON RECENT COLD START AND THE VAN ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY, LEAVING ME MOVING VERY SLOWLY ACROSS THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANE(S).

Power train 7,000 mi 1.6 yr in service

POWER STEERING HOSE IS NOT LONG ENOUGH, IS POORLY CONNECTED/CLAMPED, AND HAS BEEN DISCONNECTING FROM MULTIPLE OF THESE VEHICLES, CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY SITUATION (LOSS OF POWER STEERING), AND AN IMMEDIATE VEHICLE BREAKDOWN. MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT HAS THUS FAR FAILED TO ADDRESS IT

Power train mileage not reported 2.4 yr in service crash / fire / tow

This van is under recall for roll away incidents. The van did roll away and now has $9K worth of damage from hitting a stop sign and a wall. The van has been at MB Stockton Ca for months and months with out a resolution. Mercedes Benz sent us a letter yesterday stating they deny all responsibility and advising us to pick up the van. The recall is not complete. This vehicle is 100% unsafe and now prone to more incidents, we have refused to pick up the vehicle. Mercedes has advised us to appeal the case with them which we have done. They continue to stall the situation.

Electrical system mileage not reported 1.8 yr in service

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 20V802000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 21V055000 (Electrical System), and 21V411000 (Electrical System, Back Over Prevention) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Other Sprinter 2500 model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other Sprinter 2500 model years

How to read this