Most common 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 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 3500 complaints by model year
Best Sprinter 3500 years: 2010, 2011, 2018. Years to avoid: 2016, 2014, 2023, 2013. Compare all years →
2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 recalls (4)
Electronic stability control (ESC) › Control module
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 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.
What 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 owners say
Stability & traction control
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 available. The manufacturer was made aware of the 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. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Eight (8) wheel speed indicators have failed at the following mileages: 21,866/26 aug 2015 (2 each rear axle); 22,594/8 sep 2015 ('2 each front axle); 40,996/17 apr 2018 (1 each right rear axle) and (1 each left front axle); 42,319/ 9 May 2018 (1 each right front axle); and 48,041/ 2 oct 2018 (1 each left rear axle). Each failure resulted in an induced severe reduction of vehicle speed causing an intense safety environment for our vehicle and other highway traffic. All failures are documented with repairs conducted by an Mercedes benze repair facility. Non of the failures were explainable by the facilities and was simply a 'shrug of shoulders'. There is no way to over-ride the induced speed reduction and is unacceptable. All failures were experienced on major highways or interstates. Documentation will be forwarded if requested. Please add to NHTSA pe 20014
Speed control & acceleration
This Sprinter is a winnebago 170x rv conversion. On multiple occasions since buying the vehicle in 2016 we have experienced a sudden loss of power while driving. The engine remains on but the transmission is not engaged. Stopping the vehicle and restarting clears up the problem temporarily but it will continue to happen until a failing rear speed sensor is replaced. The first time this occurred the local mb dealer replaced both rear sensors free of charge even though the vehicle was out of warranty. The second time a wheel sensor failed we were far from home and had to delay our trip several days before the correct part could be installed. I have also found in repair receipts from the prior owner that a rear sensor was replaced when they owned the vehicle. This failure mode - sudden loss of power is extremely dangerous. …
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 manager. To my dismay, mr. Potteiger informed me that there was no such recall and that Mercedes addressed the issue of failed rear wheel speed sensors by extending the warrantee period. In other words, the sensors could only be replaced after they failed. Since NHTSA part 573 safety recall report 21v-042 dated feb 03, 2021 indicates that the planned dealer notification date was feb 22, 2021 there is no doubt that the dealership was aware of the recall and deliberately refused to provide the remedy as described in the recall report. …
Air bags
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.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V077000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair for an extended period of time. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Sprinter 3500 rates better than average: 44% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sprinter 3500 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500?
The stability & traction control — 5 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the speed control & acceleration (5) and air bags (4).
How many recalls does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500, the most recent from February 3, 2021 (control 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 31,000 miles; 91% 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.