1. Component failure: The electrical system of my 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has an excessive parasitic battery drain. Following two recall repairs on July 23, 2026, the battery became completely discharged. An independent repair facility measured an approximately 1.4-amp electrical draw. The problem remains unresolved, and I must manually disconnect the battery when parked. The vehicle is available for inspection. 2. Safety risk: The vehicle can become unable to start after being parked, creating a risk of unexpected breakdown and occupants being stranded in unsafe locations. Repeated battery discharge also raises concerns about the reliability of the electrical system. 3. Confirmation: An independent repair facility confirmed and documented the approximately 1.4-amp electrical draw. Diagnostic expenses totaled $304. The dealership declined to diagnose the problem without charging its standard hourly diagnostic rate. The problem remains unresolved. 4. Inspections: Following the battery failure, roadside assistance arranged towing to an independent repair facility, which documented the electrical draw and installed a replacement battery. The dealership has been contacted multiple times but has not identified or corrected the problem. To my knowledge, the manufacturer has not independently investigated the electrical drain. 5. Symptoms and timing: Before the July 23, 2026 recall service, there were no battery or starting problems. Approximately one week later, the dealership reported the battery needed replacement, then stated it only needed recharging following emissions testing. The morning after retrieving the vehicle, the battery was completely dead. Since the recall service, the check-engine, fuel, and tire-pressure warning lights have also illuminated. No warning lights were present beforehand. The battery-drain problem began immediately following the recall service and did not exist beforehand. I request that the federal safety agency investigate the matter. Thank you!
The worst 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Acceleration3
- Airbags2
- Engine2
- Brakes1
- Electrical1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Acceleration3
- Airbags2
- Engine2
- Brakes1
- Electrical1
- Lights1
Recalls 2
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012 Freightliner and Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled into 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 rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on January 12, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1‑877‑762‑8267. Note: This recall supersedes recall 17V‑025.
Recall number 17V480000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler Vans) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 31, 2008, 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2014, and 2010-2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2010, to July 1, 2014. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Daimler Vans will notify the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners and Fiat Chrysler will notify the Dodge owners. The respective dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners may contact Daimler Van's customer service at 1‑877‑762‑8267. Dodge owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 16V077000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500
Defect investigations
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler) as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers to identify incidents related to Rear Wheel Speed Sensors (RWSS) failures. ODI's analysis identified 6,710 incidents of RWSS failure (unique VINs) in MY 2012-2018 Mercedes- Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles upfitted to campers or recreational vehicles (RVs) representing 81 percent of all Sprinter RWSS reports. Complaint and warranty analysis indicated that the majority of incidents (approximately 99%) were related to RWSS moisture intrusion condition in the Sprinter 3500 5-ton variant, which accounts for 98 percent of upfit campers, where moisture build-up and crystal dendrite formation develop in parked RVs and lead to sensor failures. According to the Daimler Information Request (IR) response, if the wheel speed information is detected as implausible by the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) control unit, the ESP system enters a failsafe mode where:-Driver torque requests are no longer accepted;-Cruise control, if used, would be deactivated; -The ESP/ABS system shuts off; and -Multiple warning lamps and messages advise the operator to take the vehicle to the workshop. While the majority of reports involved only ABS and/or ESP warning lights and messages on the instrument cluster due to faulty sensor signals triggering a failsafe mode, some reports cited intermittent sensor failures resulting in increased vehicle speed while in cruise control and degraded ABS or ESP. Degraded ESP functionality may impact driving stability of the 5-ton vehicle.On Feb 3, 2021, following discussion with ODI, Daimler submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to the federal safety agency describing a defect in the RWSS disabling the ESP control unit functions in approximately 48,667 MY 2012 through 2018 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles manufactured from Jan 4, 2012 through Oct 25, 2018 (Recall 21V‑042). In its DIR, Daimler indicated that RWSS sensor failures are prevalent in camper vans due to sustained periods of non-use, during which time the moisture may not dry out, remaining inside the plastic housing package. If the moisture within the RWSS dries and the RWSS returns to normal operation, the failsafe mode and the warning lights will disappear at the next ignition cycle, but the sensor fault remains stored within the ESP control unit and can be accessed through a diagnostic evaluation. ODI will continue to monitor field experience in Sprinter non-RVs and Sprinter 2500 RVs 3-ton and 3.5-ton variants (approximately 626 vehicles).Daimler will notify owners of the recalled vehicles and advise them to take their vehicle to a Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner Sprinter dealer, who will replace the RWSS with a repackaged sensor with high robustness against moisture intrusion. Daimler began notifying dealers and owners in Feb 2021. This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at under the following ID numbers:11352380 11351299 11350521 11348969 11342776 11342464 11341988 11341151 11340388 11338230 11337921 11331832 11331829 11331476 11331427 11331066 11328671 11325768 11325693 11322814 11322346 11320295 11319376 11317336 11311647 11310621 11308318 11254223 11253828 11252220 11196530 11194330 11164250 11145019 11141273 11139000 11138785 11124129 11094122 11394837 11390889 11390039 11389262 11387883 11387713 11386418 11383887 11383866 11382947 11377384 11376615 11376973 11375781 11375403 11374997 11374151 11373892 11373111 11366293 11365920 11365594 11365355 11365194 11364253 11364346 11363990 11363787 11362948 113629
PE20014
Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 107
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- EGR Valve Diagnosis & Cleaning (and EGR Cooler Cleaning) – OM642, Sprinter 906/907 Complaint Complaint A:...
- Acoustic Warning or message occurring when a closed sliding door is not recognized
- Unavailability of MB Apps Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection...
- While driving through muddy / sandy/ off road terrain "4Matic Currently Unavailable" message on the dash
- ASSYST PLUS service reminder appears earlier than expected due to vehicle operating conditions Complaint...
- Complaint A: The engine is jolting/bucking between 1700 and 1900 rpm
- OM642 DPF
- Rattling noise from underneath the vehicle
- The check engine light is illuminated, or the AdBlue warning is active, with recorded faults related to...
- EGR Valve Diagnosis & Cleaning (and EGR Cooler Cleaning) – OM642, Sprinter 906/907 Complaint A: The engine...
See all 107 bulletins for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500
What 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that on various occasions after coming to a stop at a traffic signal, the vehicle was stalling and shaking while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the engine revved loudly before accelerating. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer on various occasions; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to several unknown dealers for routine maintenance services, and the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 16,000.
Wheel speed sensor malfunction, partially addressed in the federal safety agency recall ID: 21V042 Why only rear speed sensors? As of Aug. 2, 2022, I am facing the replacement of both front speed sensors one of which was replaced a year ago. No ABS braking, No stability control, faulty parts creating on going safety problems not addressed in recall 21V042.
Had a service call to repair recall items. Technician forgot to install bolts holding the transmission which led to multiple light alerts. Could have been dangerous for driver.
The van will at times accelerate on it own.
Check engine and def light comes on when I can only put a quart of def in tank only have 23000 miles on engine. Light clears after adding only a quart and restatrting and driving. Then returns in a short while. Shouldnt this be covered under the emission wtty. Year 2012 mercedes sprinter 3500
Takata recall- we have been waiting 3 years for a fix for the driver side airbag recall since we were first notified of the problem with the airbag. The recall was effective 02/11/2016. We were notified of the problem nearly a year before the recall became effective. We have also been waiting for the passenger side airbag recall replacement since 01/10/2017. This is outrageous and we feel mercedes should buy our vehicle back from us for the blue book value immediately.
Compare the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500
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Questions about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 reliable?
Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500, fewer than a typical Sprinter 2500 model year.
What is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 year score?
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 scores 86 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500?
Acceleration and speed control, with 3 complaints. Next is airbags (2).
How many recalls does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 have?
2 recalls, covering air bags.
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