AI Damage2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (VS30) reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (VS30) filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. The maker issued 81 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 81
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 25% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 25% of all complaints
- 5 Backover prevention 25% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 25% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 25% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Equipment: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Structure: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Backover prevention: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 15 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V695000 (Structure, Equipment) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
When the object proximity sensors in the front or rear bumpers detect an object, the vehicle completely or severely limits the throttle. For instance, the rear bumper sensors detect the bike rack attached to my van and therefore limit the throttle response, regardless of transmission direction (forward or reverse).
Active brake assist inoperable and cruise control is not available when this occurs
After the purchase of the vehicle, the contact was informed that he was unable to take possession of the vehicle because of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V055000 (Electrical System) and that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available.
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 14,162 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 44% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sprinter (VS30) has 4 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
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…
- 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…
- Oil Leak at Crankcase Near the High-pressure Fuel Pump OM654 Complaint Visible oil leak at the crankcase…
Oil Leak at Crankcase Near the High-pressure Fuel Pump OM654 Complaint Visible oil leak at the crankcase near the mounting area of the high‑pressure fuel pump on OM654 engines. Cause Oil leakage near the high‑pressure…
- 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…
- Acoustic Warning or message occurring when a closed sliding door is not recognized Complaint Customer may…
Acoustic Warning or message occurring when a closed sliding door is not recognized Complaint Customer may state the warning message or indicator accompanied by acoustic tone alerting the sliding door is ajar when the…
- Complaint ASSYST values in XENTRY actual values and workshop menu of instrument cluster are implausibly…
Complaint ASSYST values in XENTRY actual values and workshop menu of instrument cluster are implausibly excessive. Infor-mation: According to ASSYST values in XENTRY Diagnosis and the instrument cluster workshop menu…
- Fuel Level Unchanged After Refueling Complaint The customer reports that the fuel gauge shows inaccurate…
Fuel Level Unchanged After Refueling Complaint The customer reports that the fuel gauge shows inaccurate readings or remains unchanged after refueling. Cause A. The Fuel Supply Control Unit (FSCU) fails to detect a…
- 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…
- Check engine light with fault code P3005CA in MRD1 (CDI) Complaint The check engine light is on, with a…
Check engine light with fault code P3005CA in MRD1 (CDI) Complaint The check engine light is on, with a possiblility in a reduction of power and the presence of soot in the exhaust system. Fault code P3005CA: The…
- Sprinter 907 - Rear Axle Noise Diagnosis Best Practices Complaint Various noises from area of rear axle…
Sprinter 907 - Rear Axle Noise Diagnosis Best Practices Complaint Various noises from area of rear axle while driving Cause A: Howling Noises The high‑frequency howling noise is caused by the normal meshing behavior of…
NHTSA lists 81 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (VS30)?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, equipment. Total complaints: 4.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (VS30)?
NHTSA lists 81 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (VS30) 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 2020 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.