Recall 16V077 covers 136,361 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vehicles for driver air bag inflators. Repair will be free at any franchised Freightliner dealer once available.
Freightliner is recalling 136,361 2007-2014 Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans under recall 16V077 because the driver's frontal air bag inflator can rupture during deployment. In a crash that triggers the air bag, metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driver's frontal air bag in affected 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans uses an inflator inside the steering wheel. In a crash that triggers the air bag, the inflator creates gas quickly so the air bag cushion fills before the driver moves forward.
The problem is inside certain Takata SDI inflators. Takata reported that propellant tablets inside the inflator can change over time after years of exposure to high absolute humidity, with manufacturing variation also affecting the risk. If the air bag deploys after that change, combustion inside the inflator can become too aggressive and create excessive pressure. That pressure can rupture the inflator body instead of filling the bag in the designed way.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner will not feel a change in normal driving, because the defect shows up only if the driver's frontal air bag deploys.
Who's affected?
Covers both Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans across 2007-2014, all tied to the same front air bag inflator module.
| 2011 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2007 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2013 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2010 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2008 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2011 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2010 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2009 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2009 Dodge Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2007 Dodge Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2008 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2007 Dodge Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2007 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2009 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2010 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2008 Dodge Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2008 Dodge Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2013 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2014 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 136,361 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year, badge, and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the driver's frontal air bag deploys in a crash, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin. That creates a serious injury or death risk for occupants. Confirm whether your VIN is included and arrange dealer service soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Freightliner dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 or Sprinter 3500 is included in this recall.
- Wait for Freightliner repair instructions before scheduling the free driver-front air bag inflator replacement.
- Contact a franchised Freightliner dealer once the repair is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 16V077 when you call, and bring the recall notice if Freightliner mailed one.
- Drive with extra caution until the repair is complete because a ruptured driver air bag inflator can send metal fragments into the cabin during deployment.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Freightliner technician will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator. The final dealer repair will be free once available; parts and labor are covered under the recall. This record lists the remedy as under development, even though the recall notice says owner notification began March 31, 2017. Use the VIN result and dealer scheduling status to confirm when the inflator replacement is open for your Sprinter.
Timeline
| February 10, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 6, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 27, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| March 31, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V077?
Recall 16V077 covers 136,361 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans with a driver frontal air bag inflator defect. During air bag deployment, excessive internal pressure can rupture the inflator and send metal fragments into the cabin.
What should I do if my 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 or Sprinter 3500 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 16V077. If it is, contact a franchised Freightliner dealer and ask for the driver frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 16V077 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair this safety defect at no cost. The remedy for recall 16V077 is replacement of the driver frontal air bag inflator, with parts and labor covered at a franchised Freightliner dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V077?
The safety risk is metal fragment injury during a crash that deploys the driver frontal air bag. If the inflator ruptures under excessive internal pressure, fragments can strike vehicle occupants, with a risk of serious injury or death.
What if I bought my Freightliner Sprinter used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Sprinter 2500 or Sprinter 3500 is included, then call a franchised Freightliner dealer with recall number 16V077.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V077000 |
|---|---|
| Freightliner customer service | 1-877-762-8267 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V077 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V077000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →