Most common 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 complaints by model year
Best Sprinter 2500 years: 2012, 2010, 2017. Years to avoid: 2020, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2014. Compare all years →
2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2013 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on March 13, 2018. The recall began December 28, 2018.
Air bags
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans. These vehicles were manufactured without a reinforcement plate and protective bracket on the air bag control unit.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install a reinforcement plate and protective bracket around the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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 vehicles…
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500:
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.
What 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 owners say
Air bags
Takata recall - I received a recall notice for the driver's side airbag prior to receiving a recall notice for the passenger side airbag on March 2018. I took my Sprinter to the dealership on September 12, 2018 for replacement. After receiving my Sprinter back from the dealership, I noticed that only the driver side airbag had been replaced. I contacted the service department about this, and was told the passenger side airbag part was not available and would not be for several months. Considering how dangerous these airbags are, it seems that a wait time of currently seven months and expecting a delay of another several months is unacceptably long.
Takata recall - it appears that Mercedes, like many, remains convinced that they can evade the cost of appropriate repairs by simply stating there is no remedy yet available. However, as a consumer I find this unacceptable. They are side stepping their responsibility and my family is one bearing it. They need to find a solution and implement it. Not only is there an issue of safety, but their lack of a timely solution has economic impacts. I was recently told that I could not receive fair value for a trade a the Mercedes dealership due to this recall. The dealer indicated they could not sell the car on their lot due to the airbag issue.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking engine oil with the oil warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN regarding the issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to engage in reverse. The vehicle was taken to local dealer Mercedes-Benz of reno (11500 s virginia st, reno, nv 89511, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The consumer stated after checking the oil and oil filter, the engine froze while driving. It was discovered that the failure was due to a lack of oil. There were no warning lights indicating the vehicle needed oil. The vehicle also lacks enough power to reverse up an incline, such as a driveway. The consumer stated the vehicle's have persisted since purchasing the vehicle. …
Wheels & tires
The right rear axle shaft assembly wheel bearing seal failed. The right rear ABS Sensor, aka (rotational Speed Sensor, wheel speed sensor) failed. These parts are available for inspection. The vehicle unexpectedly accelerated without me pressing the accelerator as I approached a red light at an intersection, putting my safety and others at risk. I had to slam on the brakes with all my might to get the vehicle to stop from going through the intersection. The road was wet, and the front wheels locked while the rear wheels continued to be driven by the engine without any input from the accelerator pedal. Eventually, the vehicle stopped, and the engine acceleration went back to normal operation. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle and parts have been inspected by me, as the vehicle owner. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that the check engine and tire pressure monitoring indicators illuminated. Additionally, while the emergency brake was engaged, the vehicle moved without warning. The vehicle was taken to Mercedes-Benz of massapequa (101 east sunrise highway, amityville, ny 11701, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the sensors needed to be replaced and the tires needed air. The dealer informed the contact that the emergency brake was working as intended. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 49,092.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Sprinter 2500 rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sprinter 2500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500?
The air bags — 11 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and wheels & tires (3).
How many recalls does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500, the most recent from January 9, 2018 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2010 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2014. See the full Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 49,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.