Recall 21V153 affects 56 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans with an incorrect electric sliding-door lock. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 56 2019-2020 Sprinter 1500, Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500, and Sprinter 4500 vans because the optional electric sliding door has the wrong auxiliary lock. In a crash, the door can dislocate more than intended, which increases injury risk for occupants; Mercedes-Benz dealers will replace the auxiliary lock free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The auxiliary door lock on the 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter sliding door is part of the latch system that helps keep the door secured. On Sprinter 1500, Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500, and Sprinter 4500 vehicles with the optional electric sliding door, that lock has to match the electric door setup so the door meets the federal ejection-mitigation standard.
On the recalled vehicles, the installed auxiliary lock is the type specified for a manual sliding door. It fit into the door, but it was not specified for use with the electric sliding function. That means the door hardware is not the configuration Mercedes-Benz documented for electric-door vehicles, and the vehicle does not meet the required standard as built.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is the installed lock type, not a wear condition an owner can hear, feel, or see during normal use.
Who's affected?
Spans four Sprinter van classes across the 2019 and 2020 model years, all using the same auxiliary sliding-door lock.
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 | Lock |
|---|---|
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | Lock |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 | Lock |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 | Lock |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | Lock |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | Lock |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 | Lock |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | Lock |
| Units affected | 56 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and Sprinter model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, the sliding door can dislocate more than intended, raising the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. Confirm your VIN and schedule the dealer repair if this recall applies to your van. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 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 sliding-door repair.
- Schedule the electric-to-manual sliding-door conversion, which fixes the incorrect auxiliary lock setup on vans with the optional electric sliding door.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it. If not, reference recall number 21V153 and Mercedes-Benz recall VS3SCHIEBT when you call.
- Call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-877-762-8267 with questions before your dealer visit.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician converts the sliding door covered by this recall from electric operation to manual operation. That is the repair DVUSA specified for the optional electric sliding door issue. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Mercedes-Benz has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related sliding-door repair before the recall notice. Bring documentation for the prior repair and ask the service desk how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 10, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 5, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| April 5, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 12, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 20, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V153?
Recall 21V153 covers 56 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500, Sprinter 2500, Sprinter 3500, and Sprinter 4500 vehicles with an optional electric sliding door. The auxiliary sliding-door lock is the wrong type for this setup, which affects FMVSS 226 ejection-mitigation compliance.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 21V153. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and reference recall 21V153 or VS3SCHIEBT. The dealer will convert the sliding door from electric to manual function for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Mercedes-Benz dealers will perform this remedy free of charge. For this recall, the dealer converts the affected sliding door from electric operation to manual function.
What is the safety risk?
In a crash, the sliding door can dislocate more than intended and increase the risk of injury to occupants. The repair path is clear: confirm the VIN, then have a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer complete the free sliding-door conversion.
When were owners notified about recall 21V153?
Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. If you bought the van used or never received a letter, the VIN still decides whether the recall applies. Check your VIN, then call a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer with recall 21V153 or VS3SCHIEBT.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V153000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-877-762-8267 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V153 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V153000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 →