Recall 19V695 covers 1,232 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles for inactive airbag systems. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 1,232 2018-2019 Sprinter 1500, Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500, and Sprinter 4500 vans because the airbag systems were not activated after production. An inactive airbag system can increase injury risk in a crash, and Mercedes-Benz dealers will activate the system free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The airbag control unit in a 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is the electronic module that arms and manages the airbag and restraint system. It reads crash sensors, checks system status, and tells the restraints when to deploy during a crash. For the airbags to be ready, that control unit has to be locked after production.
On included Sprinter 1500, Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500, and Sprinter 4500 vans, the airbag control unit was left unlocked after production. An unlocked unit means the airbag system was not activated, so the vehicle does not meet the occupant crash protection standard. A dealer diagnostic short test can read the control unit status and lock it if needed.
The warning sign is a permanently red flashing warning lamp in the instrument cluster. If you see that light, tell the Mercedes-Benz dealer that the airbag control unit needs to be checked and locked under recall 19V695.
Who's affected?
Covers Sprinter 1500, 2500, 3500, and 4500 vans across the 2018 and 2019 model years, all tied to the air bag system.
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 4500 | air bag system |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2019 Freightliner Sprinter 1500 | air bag system |
| 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 1500 | air bag system |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 | air bag system |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 | air bag system |
| 2019 Freightliner Sprinter 4500 | air bag system |
| 2019 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | air bag system |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 | air bag system |
| 2019 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | air bag system |
| Units affected | 1,232 |
The year, badge, and Sprinter model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
An inactive airbag system increases the risk of injury in a crash. A permanently red flashing airbag warning lamp in the instrument cluster points to the airbag control unit issue. Drive cautiously and schedule the dealer inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500, Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500, or Sprinter 4500 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the free airbag-system inspection and correction that confirms the airbags are active.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 19V695 when you call.
- Drive with caution until the repair is complete, because an inactive airbag system increases injury risk in a crash.
- Call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-877-762-8267 with questions about recall number 19V695.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician inspects the Sprinter airbag system to confirm it was activated after production. If the system was not activated, the technician corrects the airbag setup as needed, free of charge. Parts, labor, and required software work are covered under the recall. DVUSA has a general reimbursement plan on file, so owners who already paid for the same airbag activation repair should ask DVUSA customer service or the dealer how to submit documented expenses.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 2, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 9, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| November 8, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 18, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 10, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V695?
Recall 19V695 covers 1,232 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500, Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500, and Sprinter 4500 vehicles whose airbag systems were not activated after production. An inactive airbag system increases injury risk in a crash. Dealers inspect and correct the system for free.
What should I do if my 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Sprinter is included in recall 19V695. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and ask for the airbag system inspection and correction under recall VS3AIRIGEL. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair this defect at no cost. For recall 19V695, Mercedes-Benz dealers inspect the vehicle to confirm the airbag system is active and correct it as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the airbag system is inactive. If a crash happens, the airbags and restraint system are not ready to provide the intended occupant protection, increasing injury risk. The dealer repair path is an inspection and activation correction at no cost.
What if I bought my Sprinter used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Sprinter is included, then reference recall 19V695 or Mercedes-Benz recall VS3AIRIGEL when you call the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V695000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-877-762-8267 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V695 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V695000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (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 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →