2019 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 2500 Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality returned. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power steering hose had detached and had lost power steering fluid. The vehicle was repaired, and the mechanic informed the contact that there were metal shavings found in the power steering pump. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed and determined that the power steering pump needed to be flushed and refilled. The contact was informed that metal shavings were found in the power steering pump. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V241000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

Mileage: 22,000

Hello and happy holidays! NHTSA RECALL 21V241000 or DVUSA NV3LETULPX This recall is marked completed by a dealer MB of Nanuet (99 NY-304, Nanuet, NY 10954 ) or MB of Paramus (755 NJ-17, Paramus, NJ 07652) Today I discovered my power steering liquid reservoir is dry empty, I couldn’t believe myself and poke chopstick inside to see it dry. I looked down at the hoses and one of them was off the position where it must sit. I reached by hand I find this hose oiled on the bottom and completely loose (I can pull it out by hand, while it secured by clamp). What surprised me even more, I found second “fix solution” clamp mounted by someone not qualified to work as MB Technician.

I brought my 2019 4x4 Sprinter Van in for a campaign recall for the power steering hoses and clamps. The dealership said they made the repairs as necessary and sent me on my way. A few weeks later the power steering hoses blew while driving and almost caused an accident. I was stuck on the side of the road and lost all steering capabilities. Come to find out the dealership lied and never made the repairs as necessary as far as replacing the faulty clamps. After getting the vehicle towed back to the dealership they replace the clamps with cheap hardware store clamps and I have had problems with my power steering ever Since then. I’ve taken my vehicle back multiple times for them to make the repairs and they replace the power steering pump once with a remanufactured one unfortunately I continue to have power steering issues. This is all due to the faulty hose clamps on the power steering unit for the 2019 4x4 Sprinter Van. If they would’ve replace the hoses with longer hoses and the proper fittings this would’ve all been prevented and could potentially prevent a serious accident while driving.

I took my vehicle in for a recall on power steering hose 12/20. They said it was fixed. Last week I was driving down a 9000 foot mountain with my family when the power steering hose disconnected and I lost power steering while coming down an 8% grade. We almost went over the edge but luckily I was able to engage my brake fast enough to stop us just before the guard rail. We nearly died. This recall was supposedly fixed and it wasn't. I contacted the MB dealer where I bought the van and was given a non-reassuring answer that they'll take a look at it but no real concrete reasoning as to why this happened even after having it fixed.

THE VEHICLE HAS SOME EMERGENCY STEERING CONTROL THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY BUILT IN. IF YOU GO OUTSIDE OF THE LANES, IT NOT ONLY STEERS YOU BACK TO WITHIN THE LANES, BUT ALSO SLAMS ON THE BRAKES. IT IS AUTOMATICALLY ON. IT CAN BE SHIFTED OFF EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, BUT IT IS A DEFAULT SETTING. THIS HAS PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN APPROXIMATELY 5 SITUATIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FOUR MONTHS AGO. TO ILLUSTRATE IT: WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. AT TIMES IN CONSTRUCTION/WORK ZONES, THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC FORCES YOU OUTSIDE OF THE LINES FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. HOWEVER, THE VAN TRIED TO FORCE US BACK "INTO THE LINES" MULTIPLE TIMES, IN CONSTRUCTION, AT NIGHT, WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES. IT ACTUALLY FORCED OUR VEHICLE BACK ACROSS THE LINE AND INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN MULTIPLE SCENARIOS. THIS IS A CASE OF AN AUTOMATIC "SAFETY" SETTING GONE WRONG. IT IS HIGHLY, HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO HAVE IT AUTOMATICALLY DO THIS, WHETHER IT'S DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SAME DIRECTION TRAFFIC, CONSTRUCTION OBSTACLES OR EVEN SWERVING TO AVOID DEBRIS OR ANIMALS. THIS LANE ASSIST MUST BE DISABLED TO ALLOW FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE.*DT *TR

Mileage: 4,000

THIS SAFETY INCIDENT REPORT APPLIES TO ALL 2019+ SPRINTER 1500/2500/3500 WITH THE 4X4 DRIVETRAIN (HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM), IT DOES NOT APPLY TO 2WD MODELS WITH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACKS. THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE PS RESERVOIR TO THE PS COOLING ELEMENT LOCATED AHEAD OF THE RADIATOR IN THE FRONT GRILLE IS SECURED BY A WORM DRIVE CLAMP AT THE RESERVOIR SIDE AND A SPRING CLAMP AT THE COOLING ELEMENT SIDE. THE LOWER PS HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE COOLING ELEMENT TO THE HARDLINE WHICH BOLTS IN TO THE HYDRAULIC STEERING RACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS SECURED WITH A SPRING CLAMP ON THE COOLING ELEMENT SIDE AND A SWAGED CONNECTION ON THE HARDLINE SIDE. THIS SAFETY INCIDENT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS LOWER PS HOSE CONNECTION. THE HOSE IS TOO SHORT FROM THE FACTORY, AND IS TAUT BETWEEN THE COOLING ELEMENT SPRING CLAMP AND HARDLINE SWAGED CONNECTION. OVER TIME, WITH NORMAL DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATIONS & ENGINE BAY HEAT CYCLING, THE LOWER PS HOSE WILL BACK OFF THE COOLING ELEMENT UNTIL IT FALLS OFF AND PS FLUID IS DUMPED IN THE ENGINE BAY. THIS MAKES THIS HEAVY FULL SIZE VAN INSTANTLY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HOSE BLEW OFF ON MY VAN AT 9500MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AS I WAS EXITING A FREEWAY ONTO A CURVING OFFRAMP. HAD I NOT BEEN AWARE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE I MIGHT NOT HAVE CAUGHT IT IN TIME... AT SPEED, ON A WINDING ROAD, WITH A CLIFF / DROP OFF NEARBY THIS COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS IF THE DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO OVERCOME THE SUDDENLY VERY HEAVY STEERING EFFORT. THE SOLUTION IS A SIMPLE ONE. THE LOWER PS HOSE JUST NEEDS TO BE 1-2" LONGER SO THAT IT IS NOT TAUT BETWEEN THE TWO CONNECTIONS. TO DATE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS HAVE ONLY REMEDIED TO THE PROBLEM BY ADDING A WORM DRIVE CLAMP IN PLACE OF THE SPRING CLAMP. THIS IS A POOR TEMPORARY FIX AND DOES NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE THAT THE HOSE IS SIMPLY TOO SHORT AS MANUFACTURED.

Mileage: 9,500

POWER STEERING HOSE IS COMING LOOSE. IT IS ABOUT HALFWAY OFF. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE COMING OFF COMPLETELY ON FACEBOOK GROUP FOR SPRINTER CAMPER VANS.THAT WAS THE ONLY REASON I SAW IT. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO FIX WITH A STRONGER CLAMP BEFORE IT CAME OFF. WHEN THE HOSE DOES COME LOOSE IT RESULTS IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. THIS IS A 8,000LB VAN. WOULD BE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENED AT THE WRONG TIME. LINK FOR REFERENCE: HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WINNEBAGO4X4/PERMALINK/1587076018139245

Mileage: 8,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE HOSE CONNECTING THE RESERVOIR HAD DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER CAROUSEL MOTORS (809 IA-1, IOWA CITY, IA 52244, (319) 354-2550) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE SAME CLAMP WAS REATTACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.*DT*JB

Mileage: 3,000

AS IS NOW COMMONLY BEING REPORTED WITH THESE VEHICLES, THE LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP IS INADEQUATE AND THE HOSE IS SLIPPING OFF THE PUMP. THIS WOULD LEAD TO A TOTAL LOSE OF POWER STEERING. THIS WAS PURCHASED NEW AND NOW HAS 5000 MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 5,000

POWER STEERING HOSE IS COMING OFF. LOWER HOSE ONLY. CHECKED THIS AS IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT FILED BY OTHER WINNEABAGO REVEL OWNERS. OTHERS HAVE HAD THEIRS COME OFF COMPLETELY AND LOST THEIR POWER STEERING. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS I TRAVEL. HOSE IS TOO SHORT!

Mileage: 12,000

I BOUGHT MY WINNEBAGO REVEL 4 WEEKS AGO, 200 MILES WERE ON IT FROM THE DEALER, LAMESA RV IN PHOENIX, AZ. AFTER PUTTING 2,000 MILES ON IT, I WAS NOTIFIED BY MEMBERS OF A REVEL GROUP TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING HOSES, AS THE FACTORY CLAMPS DO NOT HOLD THE BOTTOM HOSE ON. WENT OUT, CHECKED THE HOSES AND THE BOTTOM HOSE HAD ALREADY STARTED BACKING OFF. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH WINNEBAGO REVELS, AS I HAVE KNOWN OTHERS TO SUFFER FROM THE HOSE COMING OFF WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 2,200

LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE DETACHING FROM COOLER POTENTIALLY CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I HAVE 23 MILES ON THE VAN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS SPRINTER FORUMS.

Mileage: 23

THIS AFTERNOON (2020-08-09) THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON MY VAN FAILED. NO WARNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. JUST A SUDDEN DESIRE TO NOT WANT TO GO ROUND A CORNER AND PLOW STRAIGHT ON JUST AS I WAS ENTERING A TWISTY MOUNTAIN CANYON WITH PRECIPITOUS DROPS (LEE HILL DR, BOULDER, CO). LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE CURVE (AT THE LIMIT OF MY ARM STRENGTH) AND NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD. MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD IT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. ONCE I REALIZED I LOST POWER ASSISTANCE, I WAS ABLE TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK HOME. I'M NOT SURE THIS IS A BLESSING BUT I'M SO HAPPY IT FAILED RIGHT AT THE START OF THE CANYON AND NOT WHEN THERE WAS A 500FT DROP BESIDE ME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN HOME, AS I WAS JUST PHYSICALLY STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO NAVIGATE INTERSECTIONS HOWEVER, IT WAS A CLOSE CALL TO NEEDING A TOW TRUCK. ON TWISTY ROADS THE VAN IS ESSENTIALLY UNDERIVABLE. ONCE SAFELY PARKED I NOTICED FLUID POOLING UNDER THE VAN AND IT HAS SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE BAY SO THIS LOOKED LIKE A HYDRAULIC HOSE OR CLAMP FAILURE.

Mileage: 3,600

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SOME SORT OF WIND SHEER WARNING SYSTEM THAT DETECTS CROSS WINDS AND SUDDENLY SLAMS ON THE BRAKES, WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT ON I-40 IN ARIZONA AT 75 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL, AND WAS PASSING A TRUCK IN THE LEFT LANE. IT WAS A SOMEWHAT WINDY DAY, BUT I WAS DEALING WITH THE WIND AS ANY NORMAL DRIVER WOULD DO, BY STEERING INTO THE WIND A BIT, AND DEALING WITH GUSTS AS THEY AROSE. AS SOON AS THE NOSE OF MY VEHICLE PASSED THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK, MY VAN SUDDENLY BRAKED WITHOUT WARNING. I DID NOT EXPECT IT AND THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT EITHER. I SUDDENLY GRABBED THE WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS, AND TRIED TO CORRECT THE STEERING, NOT KNOWING WHAT WHAT GOING ON, AND NEARLY VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE VAN SWERVED NEXT TO THIS TRUCK, RIGHT TO LEFT IN THE LANE, AND I BATTLED TO REGAIN CONTROL WHEN THIS UNEXPECTED SUDDEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES RANDOMLY HAPPENED THAT I DID NOT DO. THIS SUDDEN BRAKE-SLAMMING OCCURRED AT LEAST 5 MORE TIMES IN THIS 4 HOUR TRIP. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T EXPECT AND WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND CONVERSING WITH SOMEONE AND SUDDENLY THE BRAKES ARE SHARPLY APPLIED WHILE YOU ARE ON CRUISE CONTROL, WITHOUT ANY SORT OF WARNING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM. I CALLED MERCEDES AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO TURN THIS FEATURE OFF, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND MORE OR LESS IMPLIED THAT WE HAD TO "LIVE WITH IT". THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY OTHER DRIVERS THAT ROUTINELY DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AS WELL. AND HE REACTED IN THE SAME VIOLENT WAY THAT I DID, TRYING TO OVERCOMPENSATE FOR THIS SUDDEN AND UNPLANNED BRAKING. THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE FOR SURE IF WE CANNOT GET IT TURNED OFF. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS FEATURE TO HAVE ON A VEHICLE!.

Mileage: 15,000

NEW PURCHASE 02-29-2020; THE MERCEDES SPRINTER 2500 THAT WAS UPFITTED BY AIRSTREAM INTO THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATE NINETEEN. I DROVE ABOUT 60 MILES AND WHEN BACKING FROM A PARKING SPOT I FELT A SUDDEN GRAB/JOLT FROM THE RIGHT FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE AS IF BACKED OVER A DOG/CHILD. THANKFULLY NOTHING. THREE MORE TIMES THIS OCCURRED OVER TWO DAYS BUT W/O FINDING A CAUSE I CHOSE TO DRIVE 800 MILES TO SEATTLE FROM CALIFORNIA VIA I-5. ABOUT 40 MILES ENROUTE I WAS GOING 70 MPH ON A STRAIGHT, SLIGHT DOWNGRADE STRETCH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY GRABBED TO THE RIGHT WITH A SHORT/ABRUPT JERK ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS WAS THE SAME AS THE BACKWARD BUT NOW FORWARD AND FRIGHTENING. FORTUNATELY I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL WITH A FIRM GRIP DUE TO THE UNFAMILIAR DARK ROADWAY AND DOWNGRADE STRETCH. THIS OCCURRED FIVE OTHER TIMES OVER THE NEXT 70-100 MILES AT A REDUCED SPEED OF 40-50 WITH A FIRM GRIP ON THE WHEEL AND EXPECTING IT SO I STAYED IN THE FAR LEFT LANE TO AVOID GOING OFF THE ROADWAY ON THE RIGHT. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RESUMED THE DRIVE AT ABOUT 40-50 MPH AND FELT THE SAME GRAB INTERMITTENTLY. I CALLED MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSIST THROUGH THE VEHICLES ELECTRONIC CONNECTIONS ON THE NAV/MEDIA SCREEN AND THEY PROMPTED ME THROUGH DEACTIVATING THE BRAKE ASSIST. I DEACTIVATED ALL THE OTHER SENSOR DEVICES LIKE LANE ASSIST, PARKTRONICS ETC THAT I COULD FIND TO BE AS SURE AS POSSIBLE IT WAS NOT GOING TO OCCUR AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THESE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS REACTIVATE EACH TIME YOU TURN THE IGNITION OFF SO I HAD TO REMEMBER TO DO THAT PRIOR TO DRIVING EACH TIME I STOPPED. I DROVE THE 800 MILES HOME W/O THE SENSORS ACTIVE AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR. AIRSTREAM'S UPFIT MAKES IT LESS STABLE AND THE WEIGHT NOW ABOUT 10,000-13-000 POUNDS VERY DANGEROUS. IF CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED MUCH MORE OF A PROBLEM OR WINDING ROADS. I'M A RETIRED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND IT SCARED ME; NEEDS INVESTIGATED SOON.

Mileage: 130