NHTSA Complaint #11317084 — 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500

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.