- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- If ESC becomes disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is NC3DREZAHA.
Vehicle safety record
2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 11 recalls, the latest in February 2021 for the control module.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Sprinter 3500 year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 recalls 11
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- The sudden loss of power steering assist and hydraulic steering fluid leaking onto the roadway may increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this campaign is NV3LETULPE.
- The problem
- Midway Specialty Vehicles (Midway) is recalling one 2016 Freightliner Sprinter vehicle modified to be equipped with a Ricon Titanium Wheelchair Lift. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height. As such, this vehicle fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 403, "Platform Lift Systems."
- The risk
- If the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards towards the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.
- The fix
- Midway has notified the affected owner and a Ricon dealer will replace the lift positioning input cam, free of charge. The recall began February 27, 2019. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884 or Midway customer service at 1-574-264-2530.
- The problem
- 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- The risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- The risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The bracket for the center support bearing of the drive shaft may not have been properly welded.
- The risk
- If the event of a crash, the bracket may detach and the drive shaft may damage the fuel system, increasing the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- DVUSA will notify owners and dealers will install three additional rivets to secure the bracket, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on May 5, 2017. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
- The problem
- 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. As a result, the air bag control unit may not remain functional after the initial impact, possibly preventing additional air bags from deploying in response to a secondary impact.
- The risk
- If additional air bags do not deploy as intended, the occupants are at an increased risk of injury.
- The fix
- 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. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
- The problem
- Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured March 1, 2016, to May 31, 2016. The bolts connecting the lower seat belt connection to the rear bench seat may not have been properly tightened.
- The risk
- If the bolts were not properly tightened, the seat belt may fail to secure the seat occupant in the event of a crash.
- The fix
- DVUSA will notify owners, and Sprinter dealers will inspect the connecting bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
- The problem
- 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. The affected vehicles are configured to have super-high roofs, but may not be equipped with the required crash pads.
- The risk
- If the required crash pads are missing, it can increase the risk of injury to a front passenger seat occupant if they are unbelted.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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. The affected vehicles may have had multiple layers of paint applied, and as a result, in a crash, the windows may separate from the vehicle when the outer layer of paint peels from the layer below.
- The risk
- If the windows separate from the vehicle in a crash, the occupants are at a greater risk of injury.
- The fix
- 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. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-770-705-2070.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- The vehicle may be overloaded if loaded to the incorrect weight shown on the label, possibly resulting in axle or tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Freightliner Sprinter 3500: every year compared
All Sprinter 3500 years2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 11 | F | |
| 2016 Freightliner Cascadia | 12 | 12 | B | Compare |
| 2016 Freightliner M2 | 2 | 6 | C | Compare |
| 2016 Freightliner Business Class M2 | 1 | 16 | C | Compare |
| 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | 1 | 9 | D | Compare |
| 2016 Freightliner MT55 | 1 | 1 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500
Does the 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500: control module (February 2021); hose, piping, and connections (October 2020); equipment adaptive / mobility (February 2019); inflator module (January 2019) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 21 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Freightliner Sprinter 3500 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data