2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around driver-assistance systems that brake or steer on their own (crosswind assist, lane keeping, adaptive cruise), diesel drivetrain hesitation and power loss at altitude, and electrical faults from moisture reaching the ignition module under the dash. Many reports come from vans with very low mileage, and a large share are about recall repairs that were unavailable or not yet applied.

1. 1
   Forward collision avoidance

   Crosswind assist / lane assist brakes or steers on its own

   • 17 complaints (21%)
   • median 3,400 mi at 1.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe the van braking hard or tugging the wheel with little or no crosswind, sometimes slowing by around 10 mph or swerving enough to feel like a fishtail. Adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning cut out intermittently, and some owners report repeated dealer visits with no fix. Others say active lane keeping pushed the van back toward an obstacle or an oncoming truck when they were trying to leave room. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few hundred miles to well past 100,000, and often on open highways or in windy conditions.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive it on a windy day or a divided highway and confirm how firmly the assist systems intervene; ask whether any driver-assist software updates have been applied. Check that the forward camera and radar areas are clean and undamaged.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This feature is dangerous. When I drive this vehicle on a 2 lane highway with on coming trucks the assist pushes me into the oncoming trucks because it thinks I am drifting from my lane. I am trying to give the semi-truck a bit of space! Ask: let me turn this feature off permanently. It's the worse with than without. Right now I have to put tape over the camera to disable this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11384483, filed 2020-12, 2,400 miles

   “cross wind assist too sensitive, kicking on randomly causing more mouvement than if it wasn't doing anything. Wind would normally move me sideways about 6 and this thing moves me by 2', slams on the brakes, slows down when trucks are in my ass. The swing it gives when kicking on with side winds lifted 2 wheels in the air and also did a couple tire marks on asphalt from blocking wheels.”

   NHTSA complaint #11462329, filed 2022-04
2. 2
   Engine

   Diesel hesitation, power loss and EGR/AdBlue faults

   • 14 complaints (18%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe hesitation or bucking around 1,700-1,900 rpm, sluggish acceleration after a cold start, and at times a near-total loss of power that leaves the van barely moving. Several owners link it to the EGR valve or to AdBlue/SCR warnings and check-engine lights that return after dealer work. Some report dealers acknowledging the pattern but having no parts or repair available at the time. Often reported in the first few thousand to about 30,000 miles, with several owners noting cold starts, cold ambient temperatures or higher elevations.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the service history on EGR valve cleaning or replacement and any AdBlue/SCR repairs, and whether the EGR warranty extension applies to this van. Test-drive at light throttle around 1,700-1,900 rpm and listen for bucking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After starting engine and putting transmission into drive, vehicle does not respond to throttle and will not move forward. If I put the transmission into neutral or park, the engine will respond to throttle input. Vehicle may respond to throttle when in reverse. This is an intermittent problem that seems to occur at higher altitudes than our home base of near sea level. The issue has occurred at 4,000 to 12,000 feet elevations. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11549365, filed 2023-10

   “I purchased my van Feb 5, 2021 with 8 miles on it. By April, it was hesitating intermittently at low speeds. It got progressively worse. MB of Athens could not diagnose it in 2 visits in May and June of 2021. By August, the Sprinter service manager at RBM of Atlanta, Charles told me on the phone that he was sure it was the EGR valve and none were available. ETA of a valve was Nov, 2021. The date then moved to Jan, 2022. It is April and there are no EGR valves in the world to be put on my van. The hesitation has progressed to higher speeds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11460110, filed 2022-04
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition module shorts out from moisture under the dash

   • 10 complaints (13%)
   • median 5,200 mi at 0.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2024

   Owners describe liquid spilling from the dash cupholder or condensation from the windshield running down into the ignition module connector, after which the van will not start or shift and has to be towed. Complaints also mention a chafed engine wiring harness that left the van stalling or running at reduced rpm, and an instrument cluster that went blank while driving. Reported from a few hundred miles upward, typically after a spill, condensation or wet weather rather than at any specific mileage.

   Recall 23V204000

   What to check: Check that the van starts reliably and shifts out of park, and inspect the area under the driver-side dash for corrosion or damp connectors. Ask whether the instrument cluster recall work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Mercedes has located a dashboard drink holder directly above a vent that opens to the starter electrical module and circuit board. The drink holders are very shallow, and unstable. The location on the driver's side dash, next to a vent that leads to the starter circuit board is extremely dangerous. I accidently spilled coffee on the dash drink holders, and the subsequent spill LED to the starter module to short circuit, stranding our sprinter van, which would not start for over an hour. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11354158, filed 2020-09, 5,200 miles

   “On Sept 6 2021 the engine suddenly stalled/stopped while driving on 194 west of Pullman Wa. A partial restart enabled me to move to a safer location. The Check Engine light came on. I used myOBD scanner to identify engine failure fault codes. Electrical sensor short circuits were identified. Vehicle was transported to a MB dealer in Spokane where a chaffed engine wiring harness was identified as the cause. MB engineers in Stuttgart Germany confirmed this diagnosis. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11434506, filed 2021-09
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering hose detaches, losing assist

   • 8 complaints (10%)
   • median 2,500 mi at 1.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2022

   Complaints describe the power steering return hose slipping off its fitting and spraying hydraulic fluid, leaving the van without power assist and requiring a tow. Several owners note the hose did not appear fully seated and that a stronger clamp did not stop it coming off again. Mostly reported on nearly new vans, generally under about 7,000 miles.

   Recall 20V663000Recall 21V241000

   What to check: Confirm whether the steering hose recall was completed for this VIN, and look for fluid residue or a loose clamp at the return hose connection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My brand new 2020 mercedes SPRINTER 2500 van just like. Everyone else's on that vehicle has a power steering hose that is too short. Because of this a fair amount of people have had this come off and ended up stranded. When it comes off you lose power steering. If this happens while driving it could be dangerous. I called mercedes benz of westminster in co and they said they cannot fix this until there is a recall for my particular VIN. Other vins have received a recall already. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11387576, filed 2021-01, 800 miles

   “I took my van to the local mercedes dealer concerned about NHTSA recall 20v-663. I know owners of sprinter vans who are taking their vans in for this recall and the spring type power steering clamp is being replaced with a screw clamp. My 2020 sprinter built in feb. 2020 is not being captured by the scope of this recall yet has a spring clamp installed and the hose is not fully seated. My vs30 platform 907 van was manufactured in germany rather than charleston, sc and for some reason is being excluded from this recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11390785, filed 2021-01, 3,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Van rolls away or does not hold in park

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 32,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2025

   Owners report the van not engaging park when the button is pressed, shifting itself into park while stopped at a light, or rolling away after being parked. Some complaints tie this to recall work; others describe jerking or delayed engagement while driving. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 32,000 miles, and in some cases after a recall repair had been performed.

   Recall 22V796000Recall 21V972000

   What to check: On a slope, park the van without the parking brake and confirm it holds, then repeat a few times. Ask the dealer whether both the park pawl and park lock software recalls were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My husband was stopped at a stop light on Sept. 9th when the van randomly (and without provocation) shifted itself from drive into park. We called the dealership to explain the problem and ask that they look into it. We made an appointment and dropped off the vehicle yesterday. Service Department called and verbally stated that they had taken a van on a test drive and that the van had acted normally and that they anticipated returning the van to us with the instruction that if we experienced the problem again to contact them. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11433961, filed 2021-09

   “I had 5 recalls completed at the MB Sprinter dealership in Pleasanton CA on 11/06/2025. Had hardly driven it 100 miles or 5 times since then when I noticed it was not always going into park. One recall had to do with not going in park when you push park button while foot on brake. I was not having that problem until the MB Sprinter dealership did the recall work. Now every 5th time or so it does not go in park when I push park button while foot on brake. Dealership insists I must pay to have this fixed even though their recall work caused it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11703605, filed 2025-12

Buying note. Check that every open recall for the specific VIN has actually been completed, since several complaints are about recalls that were never performed. A thorough test drive covering highway assist systems, a cold start and light-throttle acceleration will surface most of what owners describe here.

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.