2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500 Complaints

This vehicle with 19711 mileage was parked in the driveway. The engine started normally, but a red error message stated, "Service Required Do Not Shift Gears Visit Dealer". I contacted the local dealership and Mercedes Roadside Assistance was not able to reset the software. The driveshaft was disconnected and two tow trucks were needed to pull the vehicle out of the driveway and then tow to the dealership. The technician found "internal electrical fault in ISM causing shifter not to come out of park". The electronic shifting unit was replaced and the vehicle is functioning normally. The switching unit did not have any external damage and there was no evidence of corrosion on the electrical terminal. This vehicle has had all of the recommended service at the dealership. It was previously serviced on Nov. 5, 2025 for recall 2025070011(update controll unit software). There were no transmission error codes. In approximately February 2026, the vehicle had not been started and the battery was dead. I jumped the vehicle to start it and then used a battery charger. No one was injured. Luckily this occured in my driveway. Mercedes assistance was appreciated. However, there was absolutely no indication of a problem prior to this. There is no mechanism to shift into neutral to move the vehicle unless the drive shaft is disconnected. If this were to occur on a busy street, it is possible that many people could have been injured. I am reporting this "near miss" in case there are other similar problems that have been reported. I believe that the unit will be inspected by Mercedes as well.

We were driving on Rt. 32 north of Canaan Valley State Park in West Virginia. Suddenly the dashboard display began flickering on and off, displaying numerous multiple warning errors and alarms, and the windshield wipers began working and would not shut off. Turn signals would not function. Warning messages included instructions not to shift gears, lane keeping assist and automatic braking disabled, "Steering Malfunction", and many other errors. We have a partial video showing part on the incident. Dealer found evidence of corrosion on the Electronic Ignition System module, and sticking ignition on/off switch, which was indicated as the cause of the problem.

Mercedes Benz 3500 XL Sprinter motorhome, 2020 chassis. May 2023 MB did several recalls & software updates which MB USA headquarters said those changes could've affected the Cruise Control & Adaptive Cruise Control because these systems worked excellently until May '23, in my local MB Sprinter service. These systems have not worked more than 2% of the time. MB keeps changing items with no improvement. I told them to test on I-95 or The turnpike, as that's when we use it safely. Service tech said they're not allowed to test it there; we told them that's when it won't work, when we need it. Dozens of trips keep proving MB needs a permanent fix for the safety features we paid & need. I KEEP TRYING TO ADD MY 10 SECOND VIDEO CLIP BELOW BUT YOUR SITE WON'T TAKE IT. IT SHOWS the Cruise Control 3 blinking BLANK cursors on dash monitor where the mph Cruise miles #s setting should display. I showed this to my local MB service who sent video to MB USA HEADQUARTERS. Under my active Warranty they need to CHANGE the WHOLE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THESE bandaids are exhausting time & resources for all of us. Now their engineers say it could be the seat sensor. I've hamstring pain & need a seat cushion while driving. This EXCUSE is FAULTY like their FAULT CODES, as randomly I don't use my seat cushion & Cruise Control & thus Adaptive Cruise Control won't work. Thank you for your help! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that the message “Brake Assist Inoperable - See Owner’s Manual” message was displayed. The warning light remained illuminated for several miles before turning off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on three occasions, where it was diagnosed that there was a low sensor, approximately 1.5 centimeters, and the sensor was adjusted. The fault code displayed was C174AFB on two diagnostic tests. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. Additionally, the mechanic informed the contact to keep the front of the vehicle clean. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

The above are wouldn't allow me to place a check mark in the appropriate boxes. In the Standard Vehicle Components and ADAS sections, I was unable to check the boxes, but our vehicle contains ALL of the items in the first and second sections. The vehicle was dropped off at Lazy Days, Tampa on October 21, 2022 and so far they have been unable to provide an estimate or advise when we may receive our repaired motorhome. This dealer has a reputation for very poor follow-up. If you provide an email, I can send you the items to be checked. Despite going through two highway barriers at about 40 to 50 mph, the air bag system failed to deploy. The vehicle stopped as we ran into a fence at an angle of ten to fifteen percent. We luckily dodged five opportunities to be killed. My wife jumped out of the vehicle when it stopped and screamed so loud I could not believe it was her. I've been married 28 years and was shocked at her condition. I had to hold her to quiet her. The first hint of a problem was the brakes failed and the cruise control seemed to increase speed, but I'm not absolutely sure of this, but it felt like it. There are two Tiffin reps at Lazy Days, which I wrote about this, twice, and called leaving a message and they have not sought to get in touch with me. The supervisor, [XXX], of the intake service advisor, [XXX] said she would be in touch. I told her there was so much wrong, we understand if it took longer than her usual case. When it was about a month in, I called and discovered he no longer works there. They failed to assign someone to let us know of any progress. I called and left messages for [XXX] (Lazy Days employee) and wrote two emails and he also failed to get in touch, but he assigned [XXX] who called us asking what was wrong with our coach. I was beside myself. [XXX] failed to even read the invoice! I told her to read the invoice and call us back. Ran out of room. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The contact owns a 2021 Tiffin Wayfarer built on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V610000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The RV was then towed to an independent mechanic but was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but provided no assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V360000 (Electrical System, Communication) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

This vehicle suspends cruise control and breaking assist without notice. These systems become unavailable sometimes for days. While driving downhill, you suddenly lose speed control requiring excessive manual breaking. The problem is dangerous because you suddenly lose the ability to maintain cruise control. Breaking assist is lost and suddenly appearing people, bicycles or cars are at risk. A call to the manufacture, Mercedes-Benz yielded no help. They said they had never heard of this problem.

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 - 80 MPH, the Crosswind Assist feature malfunctioned and was not able to be deactivated, causing the vehicle to abruptly brake and inadvertently turn the steering wheel. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,900.

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that the front and rear end tracks where the front driver’s and passenger's seats were mounted would cut his leg while entering or exiting the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the original dealer, Renegade RV (52216 IN-15, Bristol, IN 46507) where the RV was purchased. Renegade RV was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 800.