The Lemon IndexAll carsMercedes-BenzSprinter2016
201520172nd generation
42 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 4,500 and 22,000 miles (7,200–35,000 km) (the middle half of the 25 complaints, of all 42 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V042000 (stability control), 20V663000 (steering) and 19V004000 (airbags) done? It has 16 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- NHTSA has an open investigation into desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Has this car had that problem?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Mercedes-Benz sent dealers 150 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Transmission leak in area of oil pump”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Mercedes-Benz's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 42 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 4K to 22K miles (7K to 35K km) on the car (25 of all 42 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Been waiting 11 months for parts for the passenger side airbag recall and I still can't get a date as to when they will be able to correct the situation.
2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter owner · NHTSA complaint 11289906
More owner reports
Mercedes benz refuses for over a year to fix my airbags passenger seat airbag deployed with no accident. Just driving about 25 miles an hour it employed at of now nowhere but airbag didn't come out
NHTSA complaint 11291145
This recall goes back to march 2019. I need to sell this vehicle and I can't sell it with the recall not performed. When will the parts be available for the recall?
NHTSA complaint 11289709
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 19.8M views · 2007–2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Most-watched topics
- Oil changes & service741K views
Oil reset Mercedes sprinter 2012Paul Zhukotansky · 427K views · 3 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank694K views
Mercedes Sprinter Fuel Filter Change 2014Mercedes Sprinter DIY · 193K views · 8 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical535K views
2011 Mercedes Sprinter battery replacement ( under the floorboard )JMMJ Productions · 164K views · 8 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors260K views
2013 Mercedes Sprinter EGR valve cleaning procedure, do every 15,000-20,000 mi, stops coughingWyattsSaab · 156K views · 3 videos
Show 4 more
- No-start: theft light, key & ignition178K views
MERCEDES SPRINTER 2012 | NO START | ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK | BYPASS EMULATOR | DIAGNOSTICSVEPROFESSIONALS · 99K views · 2 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door160K views
How to FIX Your Blower Motor (Sprinter Van 2007-2018)Drift Overland · 92K views · 4 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring100K views
2013 Mercedes Sprinter Code P2047 Adblue Metering Valve Has An Electrical Fault Or An Open CircuitKIT'S Auto and Truck Repair · 67K views · 3 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors87K views
2007 - 2017 Dodge Mercedes Sprinter door panel & Speaker removalvexas · 48K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
2017 Sprinter intermittent starting problemsRobert Mailloux · 26K views
The last reliable Sprinter built by Mercedes? | A 2009 Mercedes Sprinter Camper Review and POV DriveOttoEx · 15K views
Sprinter van 2011 problems : coolant color, belt tensioner and oil leakSprinter HQ 4 Shops · 15K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2016 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Mercedes-Benz told dealers about
Mercedes-Benz sent dealers 150 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Transmission leak in area of oil pump
- Clunking/Rattle Noise from Rear Axle Area
- Complaint Transmission control unit Y3/8n4 (fully integrated transmission control unit (VGS))…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 16
- Stability control · recall issued 2021
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit may become disabled on these vehicles.
- Steering · recall issued 2020
The hydraulic power steering return line hoses may detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, causing hydraulic fluid to leak.
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
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.
Show all 16 recalls
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
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.
- Equipment · recall issued 2018
The unloaded vehicle weight (UVW) label on these incomplete vehicles may be incorrect.
- Equipment · recall issued 2017
These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' fire extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to a…
- Equipment · recall issued 2017
The label on the B-pillar may state a higher maximum vehicle load capacity than the vehicle is designed for.
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2017
The affected vehicles were manufactured without a driveshaft catch strap, allowing a loose driveshaft to strike the fuel tank.
- Equipment · recall issued 2017
The affected vehicles have tire labels on the B-pillar that list a tire pressure that is too low.
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2017
The bracket for the center support bearing of the drive shaft may not have been properly welded.
- Airbags · recall issued 2017
As a result, the air bag control unit may not remain functional after the initial impact, possibly preventing additional air bags from deploying in response to a secondary impact.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2016
The affected seat adjusters may allow the seats to move in the event of a crash.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2016
The bolts connecting the lower seat belt connection to the rear bench seat may not have been properly tightened.
- Body structure · recall issued 2016
The affected vehicles are configured to have super-high roofs, but may not be equipped with the required crash pads.
- Body structure · recall issued 2016
The affected vehicles may have had multiple layers of paint applied, and as a result, in a crash, the windows may separate from the vehicle when the outer layer of paint peels from the layer below.
- Equipment · recall issued 2016
The vehicle may be overloaded if loaded to the incorrect weight shown on the label, possibly resulting in axle or tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Mercedes-Benz Sprinter recall, all years · All Mercedes-Benz recalls
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedRear wheel speed sensor failure2020–2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Every Mercedes-Benz Sprinter year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 2 older years (2007–2008, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 11 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2016 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mercedes-benz-sprinter/?y=2016" title="Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="468" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/mercedes-benz-sprinter/2016/">Lemon Index</a> (2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew about one and a half times the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 147; 100 is average, lower is better). The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2015.
What are the most common 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (43%), transmission & drivetrain (12%) and brakes (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have?
16 safety recalls (latest: stability control). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage do 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 4,500 and 22,000 miles (7,200–35,000 km) (the middle half of the 25 complaints, of all 42 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2016 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
What Mercedes-Benz Sprinter year is better than the 2016?
Nearby, the 2015 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a quarter as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works