2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 Cargo Van CARGO VAN RWD

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the transmission inadvertently downshifted into third gear and the vehicle stalled with an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rear wheel speed sensors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the failure was remedied. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V042000 (Electronic Stability Control) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. Vin tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was 52,000.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE THE REAR SPEED SENSORS ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD BOTH FRONT SPEED SENSORS FAIL AND I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL AS I BELIEVE THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WAS EFFECTED BY MY FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURES. THE FIRST SENSOR FAILED 30 DAYS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 19,000 MILES. THE SECOND SENSOR FAILED ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER.

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. THE BRAKES WILL PULSATE WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP AT THE ACCELERATED LEVEL YOU MUST PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO STOP. THEN 3 LIGHTS APPEAR ON DASH, ABS,TIRE AND TRACTION. WHEN THE LIGHTS APPEAR THE VEHICLE RUNS FINE BUT CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK. WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF FOR THE DAY THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHTS ARE GONE FROM DASH AND THE VEHICLES RUNS PROPER FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS ISSUE IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT.

WE WERE TRAVELING ON FLAT, OPEN INTERSTATE ROADWAY IN RAINY WEATHER AT NIGHT WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET WHEN THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED QUICKLY. I NOTICED THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT DOWNSHIFTED AND FELT LIKE IT WAS ACCELERATING HARD. I LOOKED AT SPEEDOMETER AND SPEED HAD INCREASED BY MORE THAN 5 MPH OVER WHAT CRUISE WAS SET IN A MATTER OF 4 SECONDS OR SO. I THEN APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE BRAKE SYSTEM PULSED 4 TIMES, AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT APPEAR TO DISENGAGE. I THEN HIT BRAKES AGAIN, AND PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVEL TOWARD DASH AND CRUISE DISENGAGED THIS TIME. DURING OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS EVENT, WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN DASH FOR ABS, ESP, VISIT WORKSHOP, AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS THAT SAFETY FEATURES WERE DISABLED SUCH AS FORWARD COLLISION, BLIND SPOT INDICATORS IN MIRROR, ETC. THESE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE OCCASIONALLY WENT OFF FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, BUT HAVE REMAINED ON FOR MOST OF TIME. SOMETIMES THEY WILL BE OFF WHEN STARTED, BUT COME ON AFTER TOUCHING BRAKE PEDAL. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON PRIOR TO THIS EVENT.

I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HWY AND THE ABS AND ESP WARNING MALFUNCTION OCCURED WITH A VISIT WORKSHOP MESSAGE. THE ENGINE RPM REVED UP AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 40 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE. CONSULTATION WITH A REPAIR FACILITY DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS ON THE REAR WHEELS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THIS SAME THING PREVIOUSLY OCCURED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER WITH 4000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE SPEED SENSORS WERE REPLACED AT FACTORY AUTH DEALER AT THAT TIME. THIS INCIDENT I AM DESCRIBING OCCURED AT 12000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS 700 MILES FROM HOME AND THE NEAREST FACTORY REPAIR FACILITY'S ONLY EMERGENCY OPENING WAS 3 DAYS IN THE FUTURE. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY THAT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ABLE TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. I DROVE HOME IN LIMP MODE. 4 SPEED SENSORS WERE PURCHASED AT A MERCEDES DEALER FOR A COST OF $900.00 AND REPLACED BY MYSELF. PRIOR TO REPLACING THE SENSORS THE SECOND TIME THE ABS AND ESP WARNING OCCURED BRIEFLY AND CLEARED ON THEIR OWN. MUCH RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE OF THESE VEHICLES.

VEHICLE HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE FOR TIRE ROTATION SPEED SENSORS. THIS CONDITION IMMEDIATELY DISABLES THE ANTILOCK BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL AND CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 31000 MILES AT LOSS OF THIRD SENSOR. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT THE TIME OF ALL FAILURES.

I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THEN ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRY TO ACCELERATE AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PETAL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS WAS TO PHYSICALLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. AFTER SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME MULTIPLE ALARMS WERE DISPLAYED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN ALARM MODE AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HAD DISABLED ITSELF. I AM AN EXPERIENCE DRIVER. I AM AFRAID THAT ANOTHER PERSON MAY HAVE PANICKED AND THE RESULT MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. THE ATTACHED IMAGES SHOWS THE ALARMS THAT WERE PRESENT AFTER THE INCIDENT, ABS ALARM, ESP ALARM, AND ANTI TRACTION LIGHT THE PROBLEM WAS ULTIMATELY FOUND TO BE A FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. VERY DANGEROUS, I HAVE ALSO FOUND OTHER TESTIMONIALS ONLINE SINCE THIS INCIDENT

THE 2015 SPRINTER VAN WAS CONVERTED TO RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV) BY ERWIN-HYMER GROUP NA AKA ROADTREK WHICH I PURCHASED IN 2016. IT WAS SOLD AS SEATING FOR 4 (ORIGINAL SPRINTER VAN - DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND AN ADDED ROW/2 CAPTAIN CHAIRS BEHIND THAT) IN 2019 ERWIN-HYMER NA GROUP /ROADTREK FILED BANKRUPTCY TAKING AWAY 4 OF THE 6 YEARS WARRANTY I PURCHASED (VIOLATION OF MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT). I REACHED OUT TO THE COURT APPOINTED RECEIVER ALVAREZ&MARSAL CANADA WHO SAID THAT NO FUNDS WERE SET ASIDE FOR CONSUMERS. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2019 I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE SECOND ROW/ 2 ADDED CAPTAIN SEATS/SEAT BELTS COULD FAIL IN A CRASH AND NOW MY VEHICLES SECOND ROW SHOULD NOT BE OCCUPIED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. (NOTIFIED IN JAN. 2020 NHTSA 19V450) YES THIS IS A SAFETY VIOLATION BUT ALSO A CONSUMER AND ROAD SAFETY ISSUE. THE RV INDUSTRY IS PUTTING LARGE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND THEIR IS NOT ENOUGH REGULATION TO INSURE HIGHWAY SAFETY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V004000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH ORLANDO (1100 RINEHART RD, SANFORD, FL 32771) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS REPLACED NO LONGER SAGETY PROBLEM. *JB

PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS FOR RADIO VOLUME AND HANDLESS TELEPHONE ANSWERING AS I PREFER TO TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL WITH A LARGER, HEAVIER VEHICLE. RECALL REMOVED FUNCTION OF SAID CONTROL AND WAS TOLD IT WILL NOT BE FIXED. VERIFIED BY PHONE CALL TO WINNEBAGO. INQUIRED AT FACTORY AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SPEAK TO A TECHNICIAN, OR CALL. TO ANSWER THE PHONE, I NOW HAVE TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD, FIND THE SMALL SQUARE ON THE TOUCH SCREEN TO ANSWER AND DISCONNECT . I ALSO HAVE TO CONTINUALLY ADJUST THE VOLUME BECAUSE THE MUSIC ON MY I-POD HAS BEEN DOWNLOADED AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND EACH SONG PLAYS AT A DIFFERENT VOLUME

WHILE DRIVING THE RV ON A HIGHWAY REFRIGERATOR CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF CABINET AND WHEN I TURNED IT FELL OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF RV AISLE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. WHILE ROTATING THE SEATS, THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,657.

WINNEBAGO VIEW WITH MERCEDES SPRINTER CHASSIS AND CHROME REAR OUTSIDE DUAL WHEELS DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INNER DUAL TIRE TO CHECK AND CHANGE THE AIR PRESSURE. WINNEBAGO PROVIDES A RUBBER TUBE TO BE USED AS A TOOL TO REMOVE AND REINSTALL THE TIRE VALVE CAPS ON THE INNER WHEEL BUT THE ANGLE AND LENGTH OF THE INNER TIRE VALVE STEM MAKES THE JOB OF REINSTALLING THE VALVE CAP VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT REMOVAL OF THE OUTER CHROME DUAL WHEEL. AS A RESULT, MOST OWNERS CAN NOT AND WILL NOT CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE ON THE INNER DUAL TIRE CREATING A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. WINNEBAGO AND MERCEDES REFUSE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE USE OF VALVE STEM EXTENDERS TO MAKE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE MORE USER FRIENDLY. REMOVAL OF THE OUTER CHROME WHEEL IS A JOB THAT SHOULD ONLY BE DONE BY PROFESSIONALS WITH THE PROPER EQUIPMENT, NOT BY THE VEHICLE OWNER.

THE VEHICLE HAS AUTOMATIC TURN INDICATORS WHICH ARE ACTIVATED AFTER THE WHEEL IS TURNED APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY SIGNALING INCORRECT INTENTIONS TO SURROUNDING VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS WHEN MANEUVERING AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS IN PARKING LOTS, ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, AND CURVED ROADWAYS APPROACHING TURNS.

THE VEHICLE IS A MERCEDES SPRINTER VAN CONVERTED BY WINNEBAGO INTO THEIR MODEL ERA RV. A PART OF THE CONVERSION IS CHANGING THE STANDARD, OUTER REAR WHEELS FROM MERCEDES AND REPLACING THEM WITH WINNEBAGO STEEL WHEELS. IN MAKING THIS CHANGE, THE VALVE STEM OF THE INNER TIRE BECOMES INACCESSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE OR TO ADD AIR TO AN UNDER INFLATED TIRE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LES SCHWAB TO HAVE BRASS VALVE STEMS PUT ON THE INNER REAR TIRES SO THEY WOULD PASS THROUGH THE WINNEBAGO REPLACEMENT WHEEL OPENINGS. AFTER TWO HOURS OF LABOR THE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT IN HIS EXPERT OPINION THE COMBINATION OF THE MERCEDES AND WINNEBAGO WHEELS IS A "TERRIBLE DESIGN" AND ADDED THAT WITH "...NO VIABLE OPTIONS. WHICH RESULTS IN A SAFETY CONCERN." I RETAIN A COPY OF THIS REPORT, IF NEEDED. I CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR A MEANS OF BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE REAR, INNER TIRE SO WE CAN CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE, ADD AIR WHEN NEEDED, SO WE CAN FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING. UNTIL THEN I HAVE A CONCERN THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS IN OTHER WINNEBAGO CONVERTED ERA RVS, CREATING POTENTIAL DRIVING SAFETY CONCERNS.

2015 MERCEDES SOLERA SPRINTER RV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RV BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DURING A TEST DRIVE AT LO SPEEDS IN THE CITY, HE FOUND THE RV HAD A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER HE PURCHASED THE RV THE SPONGY BRAKES WERE VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN TRYING TO STOP FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB