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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500Model year report

2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 years

More complaints than typical for this model

69/100 1.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2016

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
68filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
17,500miles, 36 complaints with mileage
Recalls
42campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a power steering hose that comes loose and leads to a loss of power assist, and instances of the van rolling while the gear selector reads Park. Both tend to show up very early, several under 5,000 miles or within the first months of use, while transmission and brake complaints cluster in the 25,000-50,000 mile range. Complaints taper off in later model years, but early-mile reports concentrate heavily in the first year of ownership.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Van rolls while selector shows Park

    • 16 complaints (24%)
    • median 28,500 mi at 2.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2020–2022

    Complaints describe the van moving or rolling away with the transmission reportedly in Park, often after idling for around ten minutes, with the dash still indicating Park. Fleet operators report being able to reproduce it on several units and say a transmission replacement resolved it on one van, while a dealer in another case pointed to the owner's manual and the parking brake not being applied. A software-related park lock recall and a parking pawl recall cover related symptoms on this model year. Reported across a wide mileage range, including vans under 1,000 miles and others past 40,000.

    Recall 22V796000Recall 21V972000

    What to check: Confirm the park lock software update (21V972000) and the parking pawl recall (22V796000) were completed. On a test drive, park on a slight incline, let it idle, and confirm it holds with the parking brake set.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “We run a fleet of mercedes sprinters and we have encountered an issue that under certain circumstances the vehicle in question may roll freely after being placed into park. The indicator on the dashboard shows that the vehicle is in park, but after 10 minutes of idle time some vehicles will release from the parking position and roll freely. We have multiplied this issue on 4 units so far. Mercedes has replaced a transmission on this unit under warranty and it seems to remedy the problem at this time. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11404417, filed 2021-03, 20,900 miles

    “We are experiencing an issue with our 2019 mercedes sprinters freely rolling in park after 10 minutes of idle time. We have 20 sprinters and out of the 20 we were able to duplicate this issue on 4 so far. One unit spent about two months at the dealer and they replaced the transmission on it. That seemed to have fix the issue. This unit has been at the dealer for about a month now, and they have not done any work to it as of this writing. They have advised us that mercedes is investigating and working on a solution. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11405798, filed 2021-03, 39,610 miles
  2. Steering

    Power steering hose comes loose (loss of assist)

    • 12 complaints (18%)
    • median 5,000 mi at 1.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2020–2025

    Owners describe losing power steering assist without much or any warning, sometimes while driving at highway speed, and several found the hydraulic hose at the reservoir or cooler had slipped partly or fully off. Some report finding the hose already backing off on a nearly new van after checking it on the advice of other owners, and others say a clamp replacement was performed and the hose later detached again. Complaints describe dealers reattaching or replacing clamps, and one owner says fluid loss and metal debris were found after the hose came off. Mostly reported on low-mileage vans, several under 5,000 miles and many under 15,000.

    Recall 21V241000Recall 20V663000Recall 20V110000Recall 20V1090001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the power steering hose recall work was done and whether the clamp was replaced, then check the hose at the reservoir and cooler for looseness and the fluid level for loss. A weak or slipping clamp is easy to spot by hand.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Power steering hose is coming off. Lower hose only. Checked this as it is a common complaint filed by other winneabago revel owners. Others have had theirs come off completely and lost their power steering. I wanted to make sure this did not happen to me on the mountain roads I travel. Hose is too short!”

    NHTSA complaint #11350296, filed 2020-08, 12,000 miles

    “I bought my winnebago revel 4 weeks ago, 200 miles were on it from the dealer, lamesa rv in phoenix, az. After putting 2,000 miles on it, I was notified by members of a revel group to check the power steering hoses, as the factory clamps do not hold the bottom hose on. Went out, checked the hoses and the bottom hose had already started backing off. This seems to be a known problem with winnebago revels, as I have known others to suffer from the hose coming off while driving.”

    NHTSA complaint #11349774, filed 2020-08, 2,200 miles
  3. Forward collision avoidance

    Automatic braking and crosswind assist triggering

    Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe the van braking hard on its own at highway speed, sometimes under bridges or overhead signs, and other times when crosswind assist reacts to gusts. Some report repeated dealer visits with the behavior continuing, and others say the adaptive distance assist drops out after long drives with no traffic ahead. Complaints also describe brake input felt as a grab or jolt while backing out of a parking spot. Reported from very low mileage up to around 80,000 miles, often on highway trips.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether any driver-assistance software updates were applied and whether the radar sensor has been checked. Drive it on a highway stretch with overpasses and note whether the system beeps or brakes without a real obstacle.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “New purchase 02-29-2020; the mercedes SPRINTER 2500 that was upfitted by airstream into the airstream interstate nineteen. I drove about 60 miles and when backing from a parking spot I felt a sudden grab/jolt from the right front undercarriage as if backed over a dog/child. Thankfully nothing. Three more times this occurred over two days but w/o finding a cause I chose to drive 800 miles to seattle from california via I-5. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11317084, filed 2020-03, 130 miles

    “The vehicle has some emergency steering control that is automatically built in. If you go outside of the lanes, it not only steers you back to within the lanes, but also slams on the brakes. It is automatically on. It can be shifted off every single time you start the vehicle, but it is a default setting. This has proven to be extremely dangerous in approximately 5 situations while driving the vehicle, and I just bought the vehicle four months ago. To illustrate it: we were driving through a construction zone. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11362197, filed 2020-10, 4,000 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Instrument cluster and MBUX display failures

    • 10 complaints (15%)
    • median 24,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2020–2025

    Complaints describe the instrument panel or main multimedia screen failing to display at startup, going black, or rebooting, which also takes out the rearview camera image and various settings menus. Some owners link the screen failure to known recall campaigns and report the problem returning after repair. A separate group describes the electronic ignition module sitting where moisture from spills or condensation can reach it and short it out. Reported from around 24,000 miles upward, with some complaints at higher mileage.

    Recall 24V930000Recall 23V204000Recall 22V281000Recall 21V411000Recall 21V077000Recall 21V2350001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Start the van cold and watch the cluster and center screen come up, then check that the reverse camera shows within a couple of seconds of selecting reverse. Ask whether the cluster and MBUX recalls were completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The main display screen in the unit has failed, which means the following is no longer functional: Reverse camera (rearview camera image) ; Traction control settings ; Lane Departure system settings ; Door lock settings ; Vehicle lighting settings”

    NHTSA complaint #11433096, filed 2021-09

    “The 2019+ Mercedes Sprinter EIS (Electronic Ignition System) module is bolted under the driver side dash board to the base of the A pillar where it meets with the firewall. The electrical connector of the module is pointing straight up - this is an issue because any liquids that might spill on the dash (dash cupholder) or any humidity from windshield interior condensation will drip right down the wiring and into the EIS module causing it to short out. _ If the EIS module shorts out, the vehicle will be inoperable until a new unit is fitted. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11432851, filed 2021-09
  5. Brakes

    ABS/stability brake activation and brake pedal noise

    • 5 complaints (7%)
    • median 24,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2020–2024

    Owners describe braking that feels like it engages by itself with the stability system active in windy conditions, and others report humming or grinding noises from the front while stopping. Some complaints describe a corroded rear caliper found during routine service, and a recall covers rear calipers on vans with the electric parking brake that may let air into the hydraulic system. Mostly reported between 25,000 and 50,000 miles, with some earlier.

    Recall 20V802000Recall 21V152000Recall 20V1810001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Have the brake fluid level and rear calipers inspected, and ask whether the rear caliper and brake pedal recalls were performed. Listen for humming or scraping during a slow stop on the test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopping, the contact heard a humming sound coming from the driver’s side of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000”

    NHTSA complaint #11427070, filed 2021-07, 24,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer determined that the rear driver's side brake caliper was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000. The VIN was unavailable.”

    NHTSA complaint #11512185, filed 2023-03, 47,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for the recall repair records and confirm the power steering hose, park lock and parking pawl campaigns were completed, since several common reports involve those parts. A cold-start check of the displays plus a highway test drive for driver-assistance behavior will surface most of what owners describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 68 consumer complaints for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. 36 of the complaints include a mileage, and 89% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 17,500 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 42 recall campaigns and 177 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 5 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 69 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seat belts (3), Air bags (2), Body and structure (2), Wheels (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Engine cooling (1), Fuel system (1), Lane departure (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “This vehicle is equipped with some sort of wind sheer warning system that detects cross winds and suddenly slams on the brakes, when you least expect it. I was driving the speed limit on I-40 in arizona at 75 MPH on cruise control, and was passing a truck in the left lane. It was a somewhat windy day, but I was dealing with the wind as any normal driver would do, by steering into the wind a bit, and dealing with gusts as they arose. As soon as the nose of my vehicle passed the front of the truck, my van suddenly braked without warning. I did not expect it and the car behind me did not either. …”

NHTSA complaint #11341715, filed 2020-07, 15,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “It is brand new vehicle and while driving a strange sound is coming from the vehicle, I went back to dealer and I was told it is an manufacturing defect on driver shaft and bearings. No parts available so far and they refuse to give another new vehicle, they are not able to provide loan vehicle either. I am stuck and can do nothing instead making monthly payments for no vehicle!”

NHTSA complaint #11187346, filed 2019-03, 120 miles

Brakes: “The delivery driver placed the van in park on a hill and engaged the emergency parking brake. While the engine was still running the delivery driver took a minute or two to locate his package and proceeded to step out of the driver door while the van was still running. Just as he was stepping out of the van the driver heard several loud clicks and the van proceeded roll away and was stopped by a large tree branch that caused damage to the roof of the van. …”

NHTSA complaint #11415509, filed 2021-05, 28,500 miles

Electrical system: “When driving on a cold rainy day, I turned on defrost heat to clear my windscreen. No heat came out. AC, fans and zone select worked fine, but no heat. So I had to stop repeatedly on a narrow road to wipe windshield. After reviewing user forums, some pointed to a known problem with these Sprinter vans. Apparently the actuator servo motor that controls the heater flap can get stuck at limit positions and fail. This explains why my heater is stuck on cold. …”

NHTSA complaint #11633974, filed 2025-01

Mileage when problems were reported

89% of the 36 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 4,000 and 37,798 miles.

39%0–1028%10–2522%25–506%50–756%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (36 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 17,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2019202020212220222023202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

See all 42 recalls for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 177 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 177 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2024125,0004———Too new
2023192,1007———Too new
20224011,9007——49 · TypicalRising
2021453,20018——51 · TypicalRising
2020803,00022——81 · MoreFalling
20196817,50042——69 · MoreFalling
20181410,2509———Not enough data
20171318,0007———Not enough data
20162824,00015——0 · FewerFalling
20152354,00014———Rising
20143850,0006——0 · FewerFalling
20132141,2963———Rising
2012823,0002———Not enough data
20111420,3864———Not enough data
20101457,0006———Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500?

Owners of this model year most often report a power steering hose that comes loose and leads to a loss of power assist, and instances of the van rolling while the gear selector reads Park. The issues reported most often: Van rolls while selector shows Park; Power steering hose comes loose (loss of assist); Automatic braking and crosswind assist triggering.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 have?

NHTSA recorded 68 consumer complaints for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 15 complaints (22% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 14.

Has the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 42 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 reported?

Among the 36 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 17,500 miles and the middle half falls between 4,000 and 37,798 miles; 89% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.