YearToAvoid

2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 20 Electrical System complaints for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500, 25% of all 80 complaints for the year, with median mileage at failure of 10,000 miles. Six related recalls exist, covering instrument cluster, multimedia, communication module, and park lock software.

Electrical System complaints
20
25% of 80
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
10,000 mi
Related recalls
7

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the EIS (Electronic Ignition System) module sits under the driver-side dash with its connector pointing straight up, so spilled liquids or windshield condensation can drip into the wiring and cause electrical faults.
  • Some owners describe the engine stalling suddenly while driving after a chafed engine wiring harness caused electrical sensor short circuits, triggering a check engine light.
  • Several owners report the rear backup camera display going black with a line through the camera icon, similar to the pattern covered by recall 21V411000.
  • One owner reported cruise control, Forward Collision Avoidance, and Automatic Emergency Braking failing to operate after inclement weather, with the systems intermittently returning to normal after a restart.
  • One owner reported a vehicle fire that produced haze and smoke while the engine was idling with the heater blower running.
  • Multiple owners reported waiting for recall parts covering electrical system campaigns to become available from dealers.

When 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 10, 2020, latest Dec 9, 2025.

2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2020Jul 2021Jan 2022Nov 2022Nov 2023Dec 2024
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2020 to Dec 2025; peak Sep 2021 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500

  1. NHTSA 24V930000Dec 13, 2024Electrical System697 vehicles

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster illumination may not be adjustable and appear too bright in certain lighting conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."

    Risk: A display that is too bright can make it difficult for the driver to see critical safety information, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2025. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3BELKOM.

  2. NHTSA 23V204000Mar 24, 2023Electrical System6,857 vehicles

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.

    Risk: A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3KOMBAUS.

  3. NHTSA 22V360000May 20, 2022Electrical System19,937 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system:software

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Metris, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

    Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update, or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2SIMKOM/VS3SIMKOM.

  4. NHTSA 21V972000Dec 15, 2021Electrical System48,400 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. A software error in the park lock system may allow the vehicle to move after the gear selector has been placed in the Park 'P' position without the parking brake applied.

    Risk: Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the electronic stability program control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 11, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3PA27 ERI/ERO.

  5. NHTSA 21V411000Jun 2, 2021Electrical System33,437 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system:software

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on July 23, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3UXPOBOX.

  6. NHTSA 21V235000Apr 5, 2021Electrical System1,285 vehicles

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The multifunctional display in the instrument cluster may not be adjustable and appear too bright in certain lighting conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."

    Risk: A display that is too bright can hinder the driver's vision, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 28, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3DISPKI.

  7. NHTSA 21V055000Feb 5, 2021Electrical System84,345 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris and 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.

    Risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

    Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the software communication module for the automatic emergency call system, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VSXHERMPOS.

Electrical System complaints by Sprinter 2500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20102 (14%)
  2. 20112 (14%)
  3. 20120 (0%)
  4. 20132 (15%)
  5. 20142 (13%)
  6. 20150 (0%)
  7. 20164 (14%)
  8. 20173 (23%)
  9. 20182 (14%)
  10. 20198 (12%)
  11. 202020 (25%)
  12. 202111 (24%)
  13. 20229 (23%)
  14. 20231 (6%)
  15. 20242 (17%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does NHTSA have for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500?
NHTSA lists 20 Electrical System complaints for the 2020 Sprinter 2500, which is 25% of the 80 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 electrical system?
Yes. Six recalls tied to the Electrical System are listed, including campaigns for instrument cluster brightness and blank displays, MBUX multimedia freezing or rebooting, communication module SIM software, and park lock software that could allow rollaway.
At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up on the 2020 Sprinter 2500?
The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on this model year is 10,000 miles.
Did the 2020 Sprinter 2500 electrical issues cause any fires or crashes?
NHTSA data for this problem area lists 1 fire and 0 crashes and 0 injuries among the 20 complaints.
How does 2020 compare to other Sprinter 2500 years for electrical complaints?
The 2020 model year's 25% share of complaints tied to the Electrical System is higher than most other years listed, such as 2019 at 12% and 2023 at 6%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.