Most common 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems
Share of the 37 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 →
2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 recalls (15)
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.
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The hydraulic power steering return line hoses may detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, causing hydraulic fluid to leak.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the return line connections of the power steering system, correcting it as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020.
Seats
Vantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit Van, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2007 Ford F-250-based shuttle vehicles equipped with Freedman GO-3S foldaway seats.
Remedy: Vantage has notified owners, instructing them to contact Freedman for a repair kit, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact Freedman customer service at 1-800-443-4540.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2017 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. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 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 driver frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall is began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Equipment
Midwest Automotive Designs, LLC (Midwest) is recalling certain Custom Vans and Camper Van recreational vehicles built on 2014-2017 Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis and 2016-2017 RAM Promaster chassis.
Remedy: Midwest will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fire extinguisher with a different brand, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2017.
Show 9 more recalls
Fuel system, diesel
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured without a protective plate on the front of the gas tank and a foam ring at the filler neck.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles were manufactured without a driveshaft catch strap, allowing a loose driveshaft to strike the fuel tank.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install a driveshaft catch strap, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
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.
Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2015, to April 30, 2016, and 2015-2016 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured May 1, 2015, to April 30, 2016.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install the required crash-pads, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Structure › Body
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mercedes Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured April 1, 2015, to October 31, 2015.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will remove the windows and inspect the paintwork, repainting the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. This recall began August 4, 2016.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans manufactured April 29, 2015, to December 15, 2015. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure label that incorrectly states a higher maximum load capacity than the vehicle is designed for.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner dealers will replace the incorrect tire pressure label, free of charge. The recall began March 2016.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC - DBA Sprinter (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vehicles manufactured February 28, 2014, to January 22, 2015. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from around the chain tensioner gasket area.
Remedy: Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chain tensioner gasket, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2015. Owners may contact Mercedes customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Structure › Body › Door
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC - DBA Sprinter (Sprinter) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to October 14, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the abutting wedge, a component attached to the door jamb to make opening the door easier after a severe frontal impact, may have been…
Remedy: Sprinter will notify owners, and dealers will check the installation of the abutting wedge, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in March 2015.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC - DBA Sprinter (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Sprinter 2500, and Sprinter 3500 vehicles manufactured February 28, 2014, to November 21, 2014. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from around the chain tensioner gasket area.
Remedy: Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chain tensioner gasket, free of charge. The recall began on December 19, 2014. Owners may contact Mercedes customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2015 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 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 owners say
Brakes
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the transmission inadvertently downshifted into third gear and the vehicle stalled with an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rear wheel speed sensors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the failure was remedied. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V042000 (Electronic Stability Control) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. Vin tool confirms parts not available. …
This vehicle has had 4 separate wheel sped sensor failures. When each incident occurred, the vehicle will accelerate on its own and at the same time the ABS will not allow full braking pressure while underway. You will hear the ABS sound like it's sliding on a slippery surface in any condition. As the vehicle accelerates and braking pressure is greatly reduced, it is sometimes necessary to quickly shove the vehicle in neutral to keep from hitting anything ahead. When these failures occur it can be at any speed or on any surface. This vehicle was purchased new and now has approximately 45,000 miles. Occasionally, prior to the dash lights indicating a wheel speed sensor failure, the vehicle will also cut all power. This typically has happened on hard acceleration onto a highway, being equally dangerous to drive. …
Speed control & acceleration
We were traveling on flat, open interstate roadway in rainy weather at night with cruise control set when the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated quickly. I noticed the vehicle felt like it downshifted and felt like it was accelerating hard. I looked at speedometer and speed had increased by more than 5 MPH over what cruise was set in a matter of 4 seconds or so. I then applied pressure to brake pedal at which point the vehicle felt like brake system pulsed 4 times, and cruise control did not appear to disengage. I then hit brakes again, and pushed the cruise control level toward dash and cruise disengaged this time. During or immediately after this event, warning lights came on in dash for ABS, ESP, visit workshop, and other warning lights that safety features were disabled such as forward collision, blind spot indicators in mirror, etc. …
In October of 2018 at 28,860 odometer miles, the passenger rear wheel speed sensor failed while driving from atlanta, ga to west palm beach, fl. Causing the EPS, ABS, anti_collision and cruise control system to stop functioning with warning messages displayed on the dash. I experienced erratic speeds while manually driving home. On October 3, 2020, at 39,214 odometer miles, the same issue happened again, only this time it was the front passenger wheel speed sensor that failed with all the same warning lights and disabled EPS, ABS, anti-collision and cruise control systems being shut down. In both cases the failed sensors were replaced under the Mercedes-Benz emission warranty. I am very concerned that these failures are common with this model vehicle and I will continue to experience failures of these sensors after the warranty expires. …
Stability & traction control
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the transmission inadvertently downshifted into third gear and the vehicle stalled with an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rear wheel speed sensors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the failure was remedied. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V042000 (Electronic Stability Control) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. Vin tool confirms parts not available. …
I was driving on an interstate hwy and the ABS and ESP warning malfunction occured with a visit workshop message. The engine RPM reved up and the vehicle slowed to 40 MPH. I was able to get to a safe place. Consultation with a repair facility determined the cause to be the wheel speed sensors on the rear wheels. Further investigation revealed this same thing previously occured with the previous owner with 4000 miles on the vehicle the speed sensors were replaced at factory auth dealer at that time. This incident I am describing occured at 12000 miles on the vehicle. I was 700 miles from home and the nearest factory repair facility's only emergency opening was 3 days in the future. The independent repair facility that diagnosed the problem was not able to perform the necessary repairs. I drove home in limp mode. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 a good car?
Based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Sprinter 3500 rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as 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 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500?
The brakes — 13 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › wheel speed sensor/tone ring. Next are the speed control & acceleration (12) and stability & traction control (11).
How many recalls does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 have?
There are 15 recalls for the 2015 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 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 19,000 miles; 97% 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.