NHTSA campaign 15V261000
Mercedes Benz Recall 15V-261: Oil may Leak from Chain Tensioner Gasket
NHTSA recall 15V261000 was reported by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC - DBA Sprinter on May 5, 2015, with 1,335 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 for the 2015 model year. Owners were notified on May 18, 2015, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 15V261000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Mercedes Benz VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 15V261000 (also written 15V-261 or 15V261)
- Filed by
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC - DBA Sprinter
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 1,335 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Diesel
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 87.49% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 15V261000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Mercedes Benz
Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500
- 2015 · Vehicles built February 28, 2014 – January 22, 2015 (per NHTSA)
Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500
- 2015 · Vehicles built February 28, 2014 – January 22, 2015 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 15V261000.
Defect description
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC - DBA Sprinter (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2015 Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vehicles manufactured February 28, 2014, to January 22, 2015. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from around the chain tensioner gasket area.
Safety consequence
Leaking oil may drip onto a hot engine surface, increasing the risk of a fire. Additionally, the leaking oil may be a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chain tensioner gasket, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2015. Owners may contact Mercedes customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Note: This recall is an expansion of 14V-764.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 15V261000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.