2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30) problems
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle (van) built by Mercedes-Benz Group AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a large van, chassis cab, minibus, and pickup truck. In the past, the Sprinter had been sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, and Freightliner nameplates. In the U.S., it was built from complete knock down (CKD) kits by Freightliner. Re-badged and re-engined Sprinters were also sold by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as the Volkswagen LT and the Volkswagen Crafter. They are now primarily marketed by Mercedes-Benz.
In the Mercedes-Benz van lineup, the Sprinter is the largest model offered, followed by the mid-size Vito (aka Viano, V-Class, and EQV) and small Citan.
First generation (1995–2006, T1N)
Europe
The first generation Sprinter was launched in Europe in 1995 to replace the famous but outdated T1 Transporter van dating from 1977. Compared to the T1, the Sprinter had reduced the aerodynamic drag and moved the engine 290 mm (11 in) further forward to increase cabin space. It was the first Mercedes-Benz product to carry a name rather than an alphanumeric designation. It was released with four-wheel disc brakes equipped with an antilock braking system and was driven by the most powerful diesel engine in its class, with a power output of 90 kW (120 hp). The Sprinter was voted International Van of the Year for 1995.
The styling was updated in 2000 and 2002, accompanied by technical changes that included standard electronic stability control (2002).
Social links
Common 2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30) problems
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter VS30 2020 has been subject to several recalls and complaints from owners, primarily concerning potential fire hazards and electrical issues.
In February 2022, Mercedes-Benz identified a problem with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor circuit in Sprinter VS30 vans, which could lead to wiring harnesses overheating and causing fires. This issue affects more than 53,000 model year 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter VS30 and Freightliner Sprinter VS30 vans. The company has traced two fires to the fuse boxes and is advising drivers to operate the HVAC front blower in manual mode and avoid using the maximum blower or lowest/highest temperature settings until the van is repaired. Dealers will relocate and replace the fuses and wiring harnesses once owner notification letters are mailed April 14, 2023.
Another recall affects about 350 model year 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans equipped with electrically adjustable front swivel seats. The wiring harnesses for the swivel seats may have been incorrectly installed, which can cause the front side airbags not to deploy as intended. Sprinter owners may call 877-762-8267 and refer to recall number 5491810.
In 2021, Mercedes-Benz Australia recalled 31 examples of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz VS30 Sprinter van due to a potential electrical issue relating to the wiring harness. The cable duct of the starter-alternator wiring may become loose and damaged over time, with the potential for a short-circuit to occur and increasing the chance of a vehicle fire.
Additionally, 2882 examples of the 2018-2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van were recalled due to a potential fault with the brake system. Brake fluid may leak internally at the rear axle brake calliper over time, causing stopping power to be compromised.
Owners of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have also reported issues with rust in the roof, which required extensive repairs and incurred real losses due to the van being idle for an extended period.
While the 2024 Sprinter is not specifically mentioned in the search results, Consumer Reports predicts that the 2024 Sprinter will be less reliable than other new cars based on the Mercedes-Benz brand scores.
What is the transmission problem on a 2020 Mercedes Sprinter?
If you don't routinely change your fluids at least every 30,000 miles or so, you may find that your 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van transmission will slip.
What year is a VS30 Sprinter?
VS30 is the 3rd generation, 2019 and up, they are available with the 3.0 V-6 diesel or a 2.0 turbo gas engine. All the diesel engines available are turbo. If you are trying to determine the year of your Mercedes Sprinter van after 2009, the eighth digit back on the dash VIN will be a letter - A, B, C, etc.
Are Mercedes-Benz Sprinters reliable?
The Sprinter is a pretty solid and reliable van. I've had about 8 recalls, almost all of them software updates. That's the way it is with modern computer controlled vehicles with all their bells and whistles.
Is the Mercedes Sprinter expensive to maintain?
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van Maintenance Costs
The national average for the Mercedes-Benz annual maintenance cost is about $908. Your Sprinter should be serviced at least once every year, and every other time your Sprinter is serviced, Service A* will be performed on it.
2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30) car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30) problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Structure problems
- Equipment problems
- Power train problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Back over prevention problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30) vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30) complaints
The NHTSA has received 4 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30).
STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-09-16
- VIN: W1X8E33Y0LE
- Components: STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT
- Summary: The contact owns a 2022 Winnebago View built on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V695000 (Structure, Equipment) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,BACK OVER PREVENTION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-03
- VIN: W1X8ED6Y1LP
- Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,BACK OVER PREVENTION
- Summary: When the object proximity sensors in the front or rear bumpers detect an object, the vehicle completely or severely limits the throttle. For instance, the rear bumper sensors detect the bike rack attached to my van and therefore limit the throttle response, regardless of transmission direction (forward or reverse). This seems to happen intermittently. When I mute the bumper sensor’s warning by tapping a button, then the throttle responds as expected. This is a known problem on the 2019+ VS30 Mercedes Sprinters, which affects all vans; it is not isolated to my specific van. This presents a safety issue, when the driver expects the vehicle to move but it does not. For instance, when rolling into traffic yet the throttle does not respond.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-11-11
- VIN: W1X8E33Y9LN
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: Active brake assist inoperable and cruise control is not available when this occurs
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-04-15
- VIN: W1x8e33y7ln
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. After the purchase of the vehicle, the contact was informed that he was unable to take possession of the vehicle because of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V055000 (Electrical System) and that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the recall and initially informed him that the recall update would be available in mid-June however, the contact was recently informed that the update was still unavailable and there was no estimated date for the availability for the update. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30) recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30).
- Manufacturer: Daimler Vans USA, LLC
- Components: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
- Summary: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter VS30 and Freightliner Sprinter VS30 vehicles. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor circuit may be inadequate, which can allow the wiring harness to overheat.
- Consequence: A wiring harness that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy: Owners are advised to only operate the HVAC front blower in manual (not automatic) mode whenever the engine is on. Do not use the maximum blower or lowest/highest temperature settings until the remedy is performed. Dealers will relocate and replace the fuse and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 26, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is 8297010.
- Manufacturer: Daimler Vans USA, LLC
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
- Summary: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling one 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicle. The front axle was equipped with the incorrect-size brake discs.
- Consequence: The incorrect-size brake discs may affect braking performance, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: A dealer will replace the brake discs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3BRESCHE.
- Manufacturer: Daimler Vans USA, LLC
- Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
- Summary: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Spinter vans (platform 970 (VS30)), equipped with swivel seats. The wiring harnesses for the front seats may have been routed incorrectly and could become jammed and damaged in the swivel seat frames.
- Consequence: If the wiring harness is damaged, the side air bag within the seat may deploy inadvertently or not deploy as designed in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
- Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and an authorized Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner Sprinter dealer will inspect the wire harness routing for both front seats and will repair the wiring and add clips or cable ties as needed, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3DREHSIK.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30) problems:
About to buy a 2020 4x4. Want to understand the quirks. | Sprinter ...
Dec 3, 2020 ... ... issues or challenges ... The MB Sprinter VS30 is quirky for sure. ... I have a buddy that purchased a 2019 MB Sprinter 4wd Cargo van and has had ...
2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Reliability - Consumer Reports
In the questionnaire, we ask subscribers to note any problems with their cars that occurred in the past 12 months. They are asked to identify problems that they ...
Shifting problems with a 10-2020 Mercedes Sprinter van, need your ...
Nov 6, 2022 ... VS30 Sprinters (2019+) · VS30 Talk. JavaScript ... Mercedes Benz corporation about this major problem. ... Well-known member. Nov 6, 2022. #2. It ...
Fix Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ERG Valve Problems | Mercedes-Benz ...
Learn About All The Common Problems With Your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter's ERG Valve and The Best Steps To Take To Fix Them!
Hesitation during acceleration | Sprinter-Source.com
May 12, 2021 ... Eliminate lag! PedalBox+ optimizes acceleration & increases throttle response of turbo diesel Mercedes Sprinter. Bluetooth mobile app control!
Other years of Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30)
Are you having problems with your 2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30)?
Leave your review of 2020 Mercedes-benz Sprinter (vs30)