YearToAvoid

2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 18 engine complaints for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500, 23% of all 80 complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure is 5,200 miles. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Engine complaints
18
23% of 80
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
5,200 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • A power steering hose described as too short disconnects unexpectedly, causing sudden loss of power steering while driving.
  • The engine hesitates or has delayed response during acceleration, with owners noting the issue occurs in a specific low-RPM range and is tied to a known software condition.
  • On cold starts in cold or high-elevation conditions, the OM642 diesel engine responds sluggishly, making it hard to accelerate through intersections or complete highway merges.
  • The engine stalls suddenly while driving, sometimes traced by owners to electrical sensor short circuits or a chafed engine wiring harness.
  • Intermittent hesitation at low speeds develops soon after purchase and worsens over time, with some owners pointing to the EGR valve.
  • A serpentine belt failure leads to the cooling fan separating and the pulley coming loose, again resulting in loss of power steering.

When 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 11, 2021, latest May 14, 2026.

2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2021Apr 2021Sep 2021Sep 2022Aug 2023Jul 2025
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2021 to May 2026; peak Oct 2022 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine 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. 20113 (21%)
  3. 20124 (67%)
  4. 20132 (15%)
  5. 20145 (31%)
  6. 20152 (22%)
  7. 20167 (25%)
  8. 20171 (8%)
  9. 20186 (43%)
  10. 201910 (15%)
  11. 202018 (23%)
  12. 20216 (13%)
  13. 202211 (28%)
  14. 20235 (29%)
  15. 20241 (8%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 have?
NHTSA lists 18 engine-related complaints for the 2020 Sprinter 2500, which is 23% of the 80 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Sprinter 2500 engine problems?
No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for this engine complaint area.
At what mileage do 2020 Sprinter 2500 engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints is 5,200 miles.
What kind of engine issues do owners report on the 2020 Sprinter 2500?
Owners describe power steering hose disconnections, hesitation or stalling, cold-start sluggishness, and wiring or belt-related failures in the engine bay.
Have these engine complaints led to crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data for this complaint area shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries reported.

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.