Recall 17V093 affects 15,338 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans for missing airbag control unit reinforcement. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 15,338 2013-2016 Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans because the air bag control unit was built without a reinforcement plate and protective bracket. After an initial impact, the unit can stop functioning, preventing additional air bags from deploying in a secondary impact and increasing injury risk; Mercedes-Benz dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The air bag control unit in the 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 is the crash-sensing computer for the air bag system. During a crash, it reads impact signals and tells the correct air bags to deploy. A reinforcement plate and protective bracket are supposed to help keep that control unit protected after the first impact.
In NHTSA campaign 17V093, the affected vans were built without that plate and bracket because the plant documentation was wrong. Without those protective parts, the air bag control unit is more exposed during a crash. After the first impact, the unit can stop functioning, which can keep additional air bags from deploying if the van is hit again.
There is no warning sign before failure. The missing parts do not create a dashboard light or a change in how the van drives, so the defect is not something an owner can confirm by feel or inspection.
Who's affected?
Spans Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans from 2013 through 2016, all involving the air bag system.
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2013 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2015 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2013 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2014 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2015 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| Units affected | 15,338 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year, badge, and Sprinter model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the additional air bags do not deploy as intended, occupants have less crash protection and face increased injury risk. Schedule the recall repair soon, and ask the dealer what to do before driving the van in for service. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 or Sprinter 3500 is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the free reinforcement-plate and protective-bracket installation for the air bag control unit.
- Bring the recall notice if Mercedes-Benz has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V093 when you call.
- Drive with care until the repair is complete, since the air bag control unit needs this added protection for secondary-impact air bag deployment.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician installs a reinforcement plate and protective bracket around the air bag control unit. That added hardware helps protect the control unit after an initial impact so the air bag system can respond as designed if another impact follows. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Daimler Vans does not provide a separate reimbursement program before the recall notice because all involved vehicles remain covered by the new vehicle warranty. Ask the service desk how that warranty coverage applies to any prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| February 10, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 26, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V093?
Recall 17V093 covers 15,338 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans with missing protection around the air bag control unit. After an initial impact, additional air bags can fail to deploy in a secondary impact. Mercedes-Benz dealers install the reinforcement plate and protective bracket for free.
What should I do if my 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 or Sprinter 3500 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 17V093. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the air bag control unit reinforcement repair. Reference recall number 17V093 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 17V093, Mercedes-Benz dealers install a reinforcement plate and protective bracket around the air bag control unit free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that additional air bags can fail to deploy after the first impact. If that happens in a secondary impact, occupants face an increased risk of injury. The dealer repair adds the missing reinforcement plate and protective bracket around the air bag control unit.
What if I bought this Sprinter used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Sprinter is included, then call a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and reference recall 17V093 when scheduling the repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V093000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-877-762-8267 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V093 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V093000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →