NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Freightliner dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500, describing incidents dated May 28, 2014 to February 11, 2016.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10971927 · Filed April 11, 2017
I NEED TO KNOW IF THE RECALL FOR THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS IN EFFECT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS. MY HUSBAND DRIVES THIS VEHICLE EVERYDAY AND I WOULDN'T WANT A DEPOLYMENT OF THE BAG DUE TO A RUPTURE AND HE WOULD BE HURT. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF IT WAS DONE? I READ ABOUT THIS ON A…
ODI #10609711 · Filed July 10, 2014
LOCATION OF CRUISE CONTROL ARM IS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL ARM. ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION IS LIKELY AND HAS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE BY EITHER ACCIDENTAL CONTACT OF THE LEFT HAND WHILE STEERING OR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE TURN SIGNAL. THIS CONDITION…

Read all 2 complaints

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #17V480000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported July 28, 2017 · Daimler Vans USA, LLC

Potentially affected: 17,609 vehicles

Repair completion: 38.19% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified January 12, 2018 · Vehicles built July 1, 2011 – August 31, 2012 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012 Freightliner and Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled into the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag, free of charge. The recall began on January 12, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Note: This recall supersedes recall 17V-025.

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.

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #16V077000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported February 10, 2016 · Daimler Vans USA, LLC

Potentially affected: 136,361 vehicles

Repair completion: 43.87% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 31, 2017 · Vehicles built July 1, 2006 – July 1, 2014 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler Vans) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 31, 2008, 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2014, and 2010-2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2010, to July 1, 2014. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Daimler Vans will notify the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners and Fiat Chrysler will notify the Dodge owners. The respective dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners may contact Daimler Van's customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Dodge owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

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.

2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 VAN RWD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

84% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 CARGO VAN RWD

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out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10971927

Incident: February 11, 2016 · Filed: April 11, 2017

I NEED TO KNOW IF THE RECALL FOR THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS IN EFFECT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS. MY HUSBAND DRIVES THIS VEHICLE EVERYDAY AND I WOULDN'T WANT A DEPOLYMENT OF THE BAG DUE TO A RUPTURE AND HE WOULD BE HURT. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF IT WAS DONE? I READ ABOUT THIS ON A TELEVISION INVESTIGATION AND IT MAKES ME NERVOUS.

Electrical System; Structure; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10609711

Incident: May 28, 2014 · Filed: July 10, 2014

LOCATION OF CRUISE CONTROL ARM IS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL ARM. ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION IS LIKELY AND HAS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE BY EITHER ACCIDENTAL CONTACT OF THE LEFT HAND WHILE STEERING OR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE TURN SIGNAL. THIS CONDITION IS COMPOUNDED BY THE ORIENTATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL ARM, WHERE AN UP OR DOWN MANIPULATION WILL 'SET' OR 'RESUME' THE CRUISE SPEED, BOTH OF WHICH CAN ACTIVATE THE CRUISE SYSTEM. SUCH MANIPULATION (UP OR DOWN) IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM'S RELATIVE POSITION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL CONTROL ARM. THIS CONDITION IS FURTHER COMPOUNDED BY THE LACK OF ANY INDICATION TO THE DRIVER THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. THERE IS ALSO NO SEPARATE CRUISE CONTROL ENABLE SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER TO BE AWARE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY ACTIVATE. THE RESULT OF THIS CONDITION IS THAT THE DRIVER MAY ACCIDENTALLY AND UNKNOWINGLY ACTIVATE THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM, RESULTING IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE BEHAVIOR OR POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL FROM UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF CRUISE CONTROL ARM WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN TO MOVE IT AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL CONTROL ARM. ALTERNATIVELY, CHANGING THE SWITCH ORIENTATION SO THAT UP/DOWN MANIPULATION CAUSES THE CRUISE SETTING TO 'CANCEL', WHICH IS A SAFER UNINTENDED ACTION (DEACTIVATE) THAN THE CURRENT 'SET' ACTION (ACTIVATE). *TR

Other Freightliner Sprinter 2500 model years

Check your 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 VIN

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