NHTSA Complaint #11364253 — 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500

OUR 2018 CLASS C TIFFIN WAYFARER IS BUILT ON THE 2017 MERCEDES SPRINTER 3500 CHASSIS. AT 17,380 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, WHILE MOVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN BANGING, LURCHING AND SPED UP. ALL THIS OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GO THROUGH A CITY STREET INTERSECTION. TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM THIS ERRATIC MOTION, I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED IT OFF AND COASTED TO THE SIDE. HAD THERE BEEN A VEHICLE OR PERSON DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT I UNFORTUNATELY WOULD HAVE HIT THEM AS THE VEHICLE SPED UP EVEN WITH BRAKES APPLIED. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND MOVED IT OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. MULTIPLE ERROR AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. WITH ONLY THREE MONTHS REMAINING ON THE WARRANTY, MERCEDES HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO HAS JUST INFORMED ME THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WHICH THEY REPLACED. THERE ARE FOUR OF THESE SENSORS NONE OF WHICH SHOULD HAVE FAILED WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE. WHEN WILL THE OTHER THREE FAIL? WHAT RISK OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY WILL THEIR POTENTIAL FAILURE CAUSE? THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN. APPARENTLY MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF THESE SENSOR FAILURES AS THE SERVICE AGENT SUGGESTED THIS AS A PROBABLE CAUSE WHEN I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AND REASON FOR HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. I DO NOT BELIEVE MERCEDES HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THESE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS. IN MY OPINION, MERCEDES SHOULD DEFINITELY REMEDY THESE FAILURES WITH BETTER PARTS AND WARRANTY SO AS NOT TO CAUSE RISK OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY. I ASKED FOR THE FAILED PART, BUT WAS TOLD MERCEDES HAS THE DEALER SEND THE PARTS TO THEM.*DT CONSUMER STATED REAR SENSORS AND MOISTURE BEING INVESTIGATED AND FEELS THAT IS NOT THE CAUSE. SERVICE TECH FEELS IT IS A FAULTY PART OR DESIGN. NEW REPLACEMENT SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT FAILED AFTER 45 MILES. FRONT SPEED SENSORS ALSO FAILED.*JB