2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 17, 2021 · 2 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Sprinter 3500 years
Not enough data 3rd of 22 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500. That ranks 3rd out of 22 Sprinter 3500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 50%). There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System1
Exterior Lighting1
Unknown or Other1 · ~5,600 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System150%———
Exterior Lighting150%———
Unknown or Other150%5,600——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2019, with 1 complaints
2019: 1201912020: 120201

n = 2 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 recalls (7)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Electronic stability control (esc):control moduleFeb 3, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V042000 · 48,667 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connectionsOct 28, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V663000 · 47,667 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleJan 8, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V003000 · 71,301 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 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 driver frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver 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.

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

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 8, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V004000 · 88,388 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Structure:bodyMay 3, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V288000 · 153 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles may be missing spot welds on the front side wall, connecting the door portal to the hinge reinforcements in the A-pillar area, possibly affecting vehicle strength in a crash.

Risk: If the missing welds affect body strength, there may be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and add any missing spot welds, free of charge. The recall began on July 2, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.

Lane departure: assistDec 14, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V804000 · 2,177 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles equipped with the Crosswind Assist function. In the event of strong crosswind, automatic brake interventions by the vehicle dynamics control system (ADAPTIVE ESP) might not be activated.

Risk: If Crosswind Assist system does not activate the automatic braking system as expected in the event of a strong crosswind, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the ESP control unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-854-888-3214.

Tires:temporary/emergency spare tireNov 21, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V742000 · 773 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans. The spare tire holder under the vehicle may not be properly secured.

Risk: If the spare tire holder is not properly secured, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: DVUSA will notify owners and dealers will lift the spare tire holder completely and tighten the securing screws as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact DVUSA custom service at 1-854-888-3214.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

At 5,600 miles, traveling west bound on i-68 in western maryland near exit 62. Sprinter dangerously and uncontrollably accelerated and decelerated rapidly shifted gears. I shifted into neutral and drifted to an off ramp. Dash lights indicated three problems abs, swerve, check engine light and…

Unknown or Other · received Oct 10, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11363739

Left taillight works only sometimes. As recall on previos recalls. Left taillight sometimes works and is getting water in system. Very dim when does work. *dt *as

Electrical System · received Mar 9, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11185506

Other Freightliner Sprinter 3500 years

← 2016 Sprinter 3500 · 2018 Sprinter 3500 →

See all Freightliner Sprinter 3500 problems by year, every Freightliner model, or the VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500?

Owners most often report electrical system, exterior lighting, unknown or other problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500?

Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sprinter 3500 model years, the 2017 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.