Recall 19V004 affects 88,388 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 and Sprinter 2500 vehicles for passenger airbag inflators. Repair is free at a franchised Freightliner dealer.
Freightliner recall 19V004 covers 88,388 2014-2017 Sprinter 3500 and Sprinter 2500 vans with passenger front air bag inflators that can explode during deployment. Sharp metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; Freightliner dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in these 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans is the metal canister inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash that calls for the passenger air bag, the inflator is supposed to burn propellant in a controlled way and fill the bag fast enough to protect the front passenger.
In NHTSA campaign 19V004, the problem is inside certain Takata inflators used as original equipment or replacement equipment. After years of exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and repeated temperature changes, the propellant wafers inside the inflator degrade. If the air bag deploys, that degraded propellant can burn too aggressively, creating excessive pressure inside the inflator. The inflator body can rupture instead of staying contained.
There is no warning sign before failure. The defect only shows itself if the passenger frontal air bag deploys in a crash.
Who's affected?
Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vans share the same front air bag component across the 2014-2017 model years.
| 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2014 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2015 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2016 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2015 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | front air bag |
| 2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 88,388 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year 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 air bag inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or passengers and cause serious injury or death. Confirm your VIN before assuming the vehicle is included, then arrange the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Freightliner dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 or Sprinter 2500 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the free passenger front air bag module replacement that removes the inflator tied to metal-fragment injury risk.
- Bring the owner notice if you have it, and reference recall number 19V004 when you call.
- Drive only as needed until the repair is complete, because the passenger air bag inflator can explode during deployment.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Freightliner technician replaces the front passenger air bag module covered by recall 19V004. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. This repair addresses the passenger frontal air bag inflator inside the module, which is replaced rather than repaired. If you paid for a related front passenger air bag module repair before the recall letter, keep the invoice and follow the reimbursement instructions in the customer letter.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 8, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 22, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| March 22, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 29, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V004?
Recall 19V004 covers 88,388 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode during deployment. The repair replaces the front passenger air bag module for free at a franchised Freightliner dealer.
What should I do if my 2014-2017 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 or Sprinter 3500 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 19V004. If it is, call a franchised Freightliner dealer and ask for the front passenger air bag module replacement. Reference recall number 19V004 when you schedule the free repair.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy says dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Freightliner dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode during a crash that requires air bag deployment. Sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. The fix is the free front passenger air bag module replacement.
What if I bought this Sprinter used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the current owner or where the van was purchased. Check your VIN, then call a franchised Freightliner dealer with recall number 19V004 if your van is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V004000 |
|---|---|
| Freightliner customer service | 1-877-762-8267 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V004 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V004000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- 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 →