YearToAvoid

2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 15 Sprinter 3500 years

The 2016 Sprinter 3500 ranks worst of 15 model years for the model, with a complaint index of 100 and 62 complaints tied to 16 recalls. Brakes are the top problem area at 34% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 17,500.

Complaints
62
Recalls
16
Crashes / fires
3 / 2
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes21 (34%)
  2. Engine14 (23%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain14 (23%)
  4. Airbags12 (19%)
  5. Electrical System10 (16%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (13%)
  7. Other3 (5%)
  8. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  9. Fuel System2 (3%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Brake pedal has excessive free-play before braking engages, delaying stops.
  • Rear brake line has failed under hard braking, with fluid pumping out of the lines instead of building pressure.
  • A motor compartment fire and smoke event was linked to a brake failure incident.
  • Airbags failed to deploy in a low-speed crash with a school bus.
  • Tail lights failed to illuminate, tied to a delayed recall repair for exterior lighting.
  • Rust and unsealed weather caulking were found on the rear bumper and underbody before delivery.
2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 complaints: complaints filed per month11Jul 2016Dec 2017Sep 2018Jul 2019Dec 2019Oct 2020Mar 2021Jan 2022
89 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2016 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2020 (11).

2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 recalls

16 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V042000Feb 3, 2021Brakes48,667 vehicles

    Electronic stability control (esc):control module

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit may become disabled on these vehicles.

    Risk: If ESC becomes disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-wheel speed sensor with a more robust sensor, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on March 10, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is NC3DREZAHA.

  2. NHTSA 20V663000Oct 28, 2020Steering47,667 vehicles

    Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The hydraulic power steering return line hoses may detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, causing hydraulic fluid to leak.

    Risk: The sudden loss of power steering assist and hydraulic steering fluid leaking onto the roadway may increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the return line connections of the power steering system, correcting it as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this campaign is NV3LETULPE.

  3. NHTSA 19V004000Jan 8, 2019Airbags88,388 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

See all 16 recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 →

2016 compared with other Sprinter 3500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid93547—
2015Caution502112—
2016Avoid1006216—
2017Caution64289—
2018Best14910—

All Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 a good year to buy?
No. Among 15 model years of the Sprinter 3500, 2016 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst overall, with 62 complaints and 16 recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Sprinter 3500?
Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 34% of complaints (21 of 62), including 2 crashes and 1 fire, at a median mileage of 17,500.
Does the 2016 Sprinter 3500 have airbag recalls?
Yes. NHTSA recalls 19V004000 and 19V003000 cover replacement of the front passenger and driver air bag modules on 2016 Sprinter 3500 vehicles due to inflator issues.
How does 2016 compare to other Sprinter 3500 years?
2016 has a complaint index of 100, higher than 2012 (79), 2014 (93), and 2019 (86), the other years also rated Avoid, making 2016 the worst year in this dataset.
How many recalls does the 2016 Sprinter 3500 have?
NHTSA lists 16 recalls for the 2016 Sprinter 3500, covering brakes, steering, airbags, transmission, and other components.

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.