The Lemon IndexAll carsMercedes-BenzSprinter2017
201620182nd generation
Better than average · most complaints: wheels
15 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
When problems show up
Only 14 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V042000 (stability control), 20V663000 (steering) and 19V003000 (airbags) done? It has 9 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?
- Any steering noise, wander or power-steering warning? Has the steering rack or pump been replaced?
- 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 101 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles, the hydraulic…”?
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 15 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 20K miles (8K to 33K km) on the car (14 of all 15 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
Wheel speed sensor failure. Abs, traction control sit down until replaced sensor.
2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter owner · NHTSA complaint 11319376
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 2017 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 101 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles, the hydraulic…
- Engine Oil Level Cannot Be Checked via Instrument Cluster Service Menu Complaint Sometimes the…
- Power Steering Hose Updated Repair Method
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 9
- 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 driver frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Show all 9 recalls
- 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.
- Body structure · recall issued 2018
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.
- Equipment · recall issued 2018
The unloaded vehicle weight (UVW) label on these incomplete vehicles may be incorrect.
- Lane assist · recall issued 2017
In the event of strong crosswind, automatic brake interventions by the vehicle dynamics control system (ADAPTIVE ESP) might not be activated.
- 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…
- Tires · recall issued 2017
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.
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. 2017 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.
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Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2017 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mercedes-benz-sprinter/?y=2017" 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/2017/">Lemon Index</a> (2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about half as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 51; 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 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wheels (27%), steering (20%) and brakes (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have?
9 safety recalls (latest: stability control). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
What Mercedes-Benz Sprinter year is better than the 2017?
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