2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

“The 4wd in this vehicle does not disengage properly even when done per the owners manual instructions. Under 1,000 miles on the vehicle . For example, I stopped the vehicle, shifted to neutral, engaged 4wd and drove for 15-20 minutes on a dirt road. I pulled over to enjoy the view, put the vehicle in park but left the engine running. When I attempted to put the vehicle back into drive, the 4wd decided it was time to disengage (without me pushing the button to do so) and it made all sorts of loud grinding and clanging sounds as the mechanical parts bashed around. …”

“Power steering hose is not long enough, is poorly connected/clamped, and has been disconnecting from multiple of these vehicles, causing an immediate emergency situation (loss of power steering), and an immediate vehicle breakdown. Mercedes is aware of this issue but has thus far failed to address it”

“I’ve had two issues with my sprinter van that were transmission shift module that left me stranded with no way to shift the car into neutral. I was blocking a fuel pump and couldn’t get the car into gear. The first time I was stuck in a parking lot with the same issue. I can’t believe no one else had this issue. The screen message said “Service required do not shift gears” I purchased the van new in 2020. It only has 17000 miles on it. The dealerships Mercedes Benz in Sioux Falls and Mercedes Benz in Rochester Minnesota repaired the van.”

“While driving the vehicle, 4x4 and low range would engage on its own. It would cause the transfer case to grind, clunk, and lock up. This happened while the vehicle was in motion and could have easily sent the vehicle out of control. Some warning lights appeared on the dash. I took it into the dealership, they diagnosed it as a glitch in the transfer case actuator software. They updated the software and declined my warranty claim since the powertrain warranty did not cover software updates. I had to pay out of pocket for this fix. The issue is common to this model.”

“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. Sometimes the check engine light has come on during these events, but the check engine light clears by the time returning home. …”