2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: jerking or lurching

Filed Jan 3, 2022 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 2,000 miles · AR · crash

The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the ABS warning light and the electronic stability control warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the motorhome was making abnormal clunking sounds. The contact was able to continue to drive at less than 30 MPH. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that one of the wheels must have failed to patch the ground. The manufacturer advised the contact to turn the vehicle on and off three times using the ignition key for the warning lights to disappear. The contact stated that he did so and the warning lights and warning messages disappeared; however, they reappeared the next day. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH and towing his Volkswagen vehicle, the transmission disengaged and the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. Then the transmission reengaged and disengaged causing the vehicle to lurch forward. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle the failure reoccurred. The RV was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear axle speed sensors, knock sensors needed to be replaced, and the recall repair for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V042000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) was completed. The contact also stated that the dealer cross-fired the speed sensors which caused the computer to not allow the vehicle to drive more than 35 MPH. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle leaned on his right side and crashed into a street sign. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, The warning lights reappeared and the vehicle leaned and hit the curb. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and offered the contract to trade the vehicle. The vehicl

Filed Feb 5, 2021 · Transmission, Wheels · 17,300 miles · NC

On september 30, 2019, I was driving downhill on a mountain road when our rv, a 25' ltv unity on a mercedes sprinter 3500 chassis, suddenly lurched and felt out of control. The breaks and steering were unresponsive, and I was pumping the breaks, hard! After about 10 minutes of struggling to control the vehicle around a curvey downhill road, control was restored. Luckily, I was going slow enough that no accident resulted, but it really shook me! A couple of days later the vehicle (still under warranty) was loaded onto a flatbed truck and hauled 2 hours away to knoxville, tn; the closest mercedes sprinter van service center. They replaced the right rear wheel speed sensor. I was told the other sensors might also fail, but they could not be replaced until they failed. Since then, we have heard from several other rvers with mercedes sprinter chassis that this is a common problem. For us, the vehicle no longer feels safe to take on the road since we have no idea when the next sensor will fail. (ps - I tried to submit this form earlier, but accidentally selected 'I do not wish to receive safety recall alerts' - I do wish to receive those alerts.

Filed Jan 4, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 13,200 miles · FL

Driving on a dry day, smooth road, with cruise control on 65mph at 7:45pm. This vehicle is converted with a thor 24hl camper on the chassis. Five hours into the days drive the vehicle flashed asr/esp triangle - and jerked abruptly but instantaneously but remained on cruise control. 2 seconds later: ABS light on, asr/bas light on, esp light on cruise control stopped functioning (fyi - a very heavy accelerator pedal spring makes driving difficult, for hours on end, without cruise working - especially for the older drivers likely to be driving this rig.) pulled off the side of the road, set flashers, and turned off engine for one min hoping to reset the fault. Turned back on - no change off then back on and the yellow check engine came on steady along with three previous auction lights (above) vehicle had experienced (with the previous owner) a previous 'wheel speed sensor failure' and it was repaired. . 'wheel speed sensor failure' appear at epidemic levels on the two rv facebook groups associated with this vehicle. The 5th key turn after initial fault and failure of cruise control the three lights went out but the check engine light remained on. On approximately the tenth key turn the check engine light went out. Vehicle returned for service at mercedes dealership 'under warranty'. My issue lays in the potential for the vehicle to enter into the limp mode if another censor shows a fault and I'm on the alaska highway 200 miles from the nearest possible service. Dealer refuses to share tech data concerning reset of fault condition or a mercedes fix for this now well known and documented vehicle shortcoming. This issue can and will get people killed as they 'limp' down the highway to get serviced or are forced to pull over in heavy traffic to check out what mercedes should be warning is all about proactively.

Filed Nov 5, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 18,600 miles · MD

Third-time speed sensor failed while driving ' all 3 times while driving on highway. Causes the vehicle to speed up / slow down and lurch with the engine doing high revs. Cruise control become inoperable. Abs, forward collision, and parking sensors become inoperable. Brakes perform erratically for several moments and then ABS indicates it is inoperable. Van becomes hazardous to drive while the electronics attempt to sort out what is going on. Very glad I was not in congested traffic each time this happens as the van becomes unstable. M-benz solution is to replace sensor ' this does not seem safe nor viable long term fix.

Filed Jun 29, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 9,659 miles · TN

Driving along on cruise control. Cruise control deactivates, anti-lock, traction control and anti-skid lights come on. I stop the vehicle, the transmission wanders between gears jerking. I go to mb dealership they replace r rear speed sensor mileage:9659miles. At 12,060 miles the same thing happens. I drivea five hour round trip to mb dealer, they replace the l rear speed sensor. At 17,000 miles (now off warranty) all the lamps are on again, the transmission will not shift into drive and I face a 133 mile tow to knoxville, tn mercedes dealership.