Most common 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems
Share of the 8 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 complaints by model year
Best Sprinter 3500 years: 2010, 2011, 2018. Years to avoid: 2016, 2014, 2023, 2013. Compare all years →
2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2010-2011 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.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The began on January 12, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
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.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
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 S2005,…
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.
Seat belts
Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 2500 and 3500 sprinter vehicles equipped with an optional three-seat bench in the passenger compartment. The seat benches in the second seating row May have been equipped with safety belts that do not meet the minimum requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard…
Remedy: Mercedes-Benz will inspect and replace any seat belt assemblies that do not meet the requirements free of charge. The safety recall began on July 15, 2011. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 843-695-5000.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500:
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.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 owners say
Air bags
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 built on a Freightliner chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V003000 (Air Bags) however, the contact was unable to locate a service center to repair the vehicle. After contacting the Manufacturer and the local Mercedes-Benz dealer, the contact was referred to Freightliner to have the recall repairs performed. After contacting Freightliner Customer Service, the contact was referred back to Mercedes Benz. Several individuals from Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner had been contacted regarding the issue but neither was willing resolve the safety recall issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V077000 (air bags) and 16V379000 (air bags). The part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 01/25/2017 updated 7/9/18
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 a good car?
Based on 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Sprinter 3500 rates better than average: 85% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sprinter 3500 at the same age. It is one of the best Sprinter 3500 years by this measure. 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500?
The air bags — 4 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the seat belts (2) and engine & cooling (1).
How many recalls does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500, the most recent from July 28, 2017 (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 3500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2011 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016, 2014, 2023 and 2013. See the full Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 100% 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.