AI Damage2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 147 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 147
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 33% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 22% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 22% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 11% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 8 Backover prevention 11% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 40.
- Forward collision avoidance: 3 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 14.
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (22% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Equipment: 1 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 25.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 40 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 5 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Rollaway from park. Vehicle rolled forward and collision at right front.
I was driving and the vehicle began to smoke through the air conditioning vent and within 30 seconds flames of fire entered the vehicle and the vehicle was completely burned. I never received any recall regarding that malfunction and never saw any signal that this would happen.
At high altitudes (it's happened over 5000ft and not under that) while in 4x4 mode, the car occasionally just simply does not respond to throttle input while in drive.
The active distance assist inoperative appears when using the cruise control. This comes on when no traffic in front of the vehicle for 1 hour or less. Also Active Brake Assist functions limited - see operators Manual To reset: follow another vehicle for 5 minutes. This is Very Very Very frustrating and UNSAFE.
Cruse control will sometimes disengage and display these error messages: "Active Distance Assist Inoperative" "Active Brake Assist Functions Limited See Operator's Manual" Cruse control kicks out and the power cuts off abruptly. After some variable time the cruise control function will work again.
Awning operation and lights are controlled by switchs in vehicle and/or app. Intermittently switchs will not work. Awing sometimes stutters when deployed. So far we have been able to fully retract. We have not taken to dealer since the symptoms are very sporadic.
The 2019+ Mercedes Sprinter EIS (Electronic Ignition System) module is bolted under the driver side dash board to the base of the A pillar where it meets with the firewall.
The Lane Assist and Crosswind Assist do not work properly. When a gust of wind hits you or when you're passing a semi, the van immediately forces your vehicle off the road or into the other lane where there is another vehicle or a concrete barrier.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,368 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sprinter 4500 has 1 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 9, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Unavailability of MB Apps Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection…
Unavailability of MB Apps Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection temporarily not available". Cause MB Apps is officially sundowned for all vehicles with NTG5 Head Unit Variant. Remedy No…
- Brakes may lock up when reversing at slow speeds Complaint When reversing slowly, the vehicle erroneously…
Brakes may lock up when reversing at slow speeds Complaint When reversing slowly, the vehicle erroneously triggers an emergency braking event, causing the brakes to lock up. Engine may not start following a key cycle…
- Sprinter 907 with 725.0 (NAG3 Classic) Transmission ‑ Shudder during acceleration Complaint Shudder may be…
Sprinter 907 with 725.0 (NAG3 Classic) Transmission ‑ Shudder during acceleration Complaint Shudder may be felt in the following situations: • accelerating from stop or up hill • during upshifts Cause Under…
- Complaint While driving through muddy / sandy/ off road terrain "4Matic Currently Unavailable" message on…
Complaint While driving through muddy / sandy/ off road terrain "4Matic Currently Unavailable" message on the dash Cause This vehicle is not equipped with a fixed force distribution AWD, rather force is only applied to…
- ASSYST PLUS service reminder appears earlier than expected due to vehicle operating conditions Complaint…
ASSYST PLUS service reminder appears earlier than expected due to vehicle operating conditions Complaint The ASSYST PLUS service reminder appears earlier than expected. The customer or dealer may report that the…
- Model 907 with all-wheel drive (A4M) – All-wheel drive inoperative Complaint The customer may report one…
Model 907 with all-wheel drive (A4M) – All-wheel drive inoperative Complaint The customer may report one or more of the following: • All-wheel drive is unavailable or inoperative. • Rear wheel slip during acceleration…
- Complaint Complaint A
The engine is jolting/bucking between 1700 and 1900 rpm. Complaint B: One or more mechanical related fault codes for EGR Valve stored in CDI control unit, with possible Check Engine Light. Review list of mechanical…
- The check engine light is illuminated, or the AdBlue warning is active, with recorded faults related to…
The check engine light is illuminated, or the AdBlue warning is active, with recorded faults related to AdBlue quality or concentration. Complaint Customer reports an illuminated check engine light and or an AdBlue…
- Vehicles with SCR Generation 4
SCR/AdBlue® warning message cannot be reset with fault code P13DF00 or P300685 Complaint Vehicles with SCR Generation 4: SCR/AdBlue® warning message cannot be reset. Information: All fault codes in the AdBlue® (SCR)…
- Complaint Vehicles with SCR Generation 4
SCR/AdBlue® warning message cannot be reset. Information: All fault codes in the AdBlue® (SCR) control unit have been processed and corrected; however, fault codes P13DF00 and P300685 remain active and stored in the…
- EGR Valve Diagnosis & Cleaning (and EGR Cooler Cleaning) – OM642, Sprinter 906/907 Complaint A
The engine is jolting/bucking between 1700 and 1900 rpm. Complaint B: One or more mechanical related fault codes for EGR Valve stored in CDI control unit, with possible Check Engine Light. Review list of mechanical…
- Clunking noise on load change or gear engagement Complaint Clunking noise can be heard on some load…
Clunking noise on load change or gear engagement Complaint Clunking noise can be heard on some load changes or when changing from N->R or N->D Cause Movement of transfer case splines Remedy Apply bearing retainer…
NHTSA lists 147 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, forward collision avoidance, powertrain. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (11%), A/C or heater (11%), rollaway, parking brake (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500?
NHTSA lists 147 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.