YearToAvoid

2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

36/100

#10 most-complained of 15 Sprinter 3500 years

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 has a complaint index of 36 and ranks 10th worst out of 15 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Sprinter years. It has 8 complaints, 16 recalls, and 1 crash reported, with brakes and suspension as the top problem areas.

Complaints
8
Recalls
16
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems

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

  1. Brakes3 (38%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (38%)
  3. Other2 (25%)
  4. Airbags1 (13%)
  5. Engine1 (13%)
  6. Steering1 (13%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle rolling or moving unexpectedly while in park, in one case causing a crash into a garage structure.
  • Suspension complaints center on a torsion bar recall (22V131) where replacement parts were reported unavailable for months after notification.
  • One owner reported the driver's side airbag deactivation warning appeared while driving, traced to a wiring harness needing rewiring, with the message recurring after the repair at 8,000 miles.
  • Some owners described delays getting dealers to schedule brake-related recall repairs, with one reporting a wait of over a month just to drop off the vehicle.
2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2022Jul 2022Jan 2023Nov 2024Mar 2025May 2025Mar 2026
11 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2022 to Mar 2026; peak Mar 2025 (3).

2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 recalls

16 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  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 23V875000Dec 21, 2023Structure & Body3,739 vehicles

    Structure:critical fasteners

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The longitudinal frame members may be missing reinforcement fasteners, reducing vehicle stability and decreasing the structural integrity of the third-row seats.

    Risk: Reduced stability increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, the third-row seat mountings can fail, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the frame members as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 4, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3ROHRAH.

  3. NHTSA 23V876000Dec 21, 2023Structure & Body387 vehicles

    Structure:critical fasteners

    Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The partition wall may be missing bolts, allowing the wall to detach during a crash.

    Risk: A detached partition wall can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure the partition wall as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 16, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3TREWAN.

See all 16 recalls for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 →

2021 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
2019Avoid862741—
2020Good431322—
2021Good36816—
2022Good2986—
2023Caution71176—

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 reliable?
Compared to other Sprinter 3500 model years, 2021 rates 'Good' with a complaint index of 36 and ranks 10th worst out of 15 years tracked, meaning most other years scored worse.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Sprinter 3500?
NHTSA complaints show brakes and suspension/wheels/tires as the top problem areas, each accounting for 38% of complaints, followed by airbags, engine, and steering at 13% each.
Does the 2021 Sprinter 3500 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 16 recalls tied to this model year, covering areas including electrical systems, structure and body, transmission and powertrain, and collision avoidance/cameras.
How does 2021 compare to the worst Sprinter 3500 years?
The worst-rated years are 2016 (complaint index 100), 2014 (93), and 2019 (86), all far higher than 2021's index of 36.

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.