2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 Torsion Bar Recall (22V131)

Recall 22V131 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 in recall 22V131?

The shim on the torsion bar was installed incorrectly during assembly.

Daimler Vans USA, LLC. (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The shim on the torsion bar was installed incorrectly during assembly.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Sprinter 1500 with recall 22V131?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An incorrectly assembled torsion bar may fail at the connection between the torsion bar and linkage, resulting in a loss of vehicle stability, and increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An incorrectly assembled torsion bar may fail at the connection between the torsion bar and linkage, resulting in a loss of vehicle stability, and increasing the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Sprinter 1500 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the torsion bar, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 22V131?

Recall 22V131 covers 2,153 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500.

NHTSA lists 2,153 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Sprinter 1500 torsion bar recall?

Yes. Dealers will correct the position of the shim and replace the torsion bar linkages, free of charge.

Dealers will correct the position of the shim and replace the torsion bar linkages, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3VADREH.

When was recall 22V131 announced?

Daimler Vans USA, LLC reported recall 22V131 to NHTSA on March 8, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 16, 2022.

This recall was filed 55 months ago. If your Sprinter 1500 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Sprinter 1500 is part of recall 22V131?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V131 is open on your Sprinter 1500, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 22V131000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should Sprinter 1500 owners do about recall 22V131?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V131000 applies to your Sprinter 1500.
2. Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Keep a simple log of any torsion bar symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Sprinter 1500 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the suspension, wheels and tires.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the suspension, wheels and tires have been filed since recall 22V131 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 62 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the suspension, wheels and tires. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500: 45 complaints in total, 1 about the suspension, wheels and tires
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500: 9 complaints in total, 0 about the suspension, wheels and tires
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: 8 complaints in total, 3 about the suspension, wheels and tires

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V131000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.

2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11462265, filed April 26, 2022

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes- Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V131000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11475770, filed July 25, 2022

My vehicle is listed as one of the 2100+ sprinter vans affected by the incorrect assembly of the torsion bar(Manufacturer Recall Number 2022030013; NHTSA Recall Number 22V131). This recall was issued on March 17, 2022. It has now been over 120 days since that recall was issued and the parts are not yet available.

2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11476667, filed July 30, 2022

Can recall 22V131 make my Sprinter 1500 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Recall 22V131000 does not automatically make your Sprinter 1500 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

If a suspension or wheel problem on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 returns after the recall work, keep the repair orders. Repeat visits for the same defect are what California's lemon law looks at.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 22V131