2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 Backup Camera Display Recall (22V281)

Recall 22V281 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 in recall 22V281?

The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error.

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Sprinter 1500 with recall 22V281?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, 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 display function, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 22V281?

Recall 22V281 covers 12,086 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500.

NHTSA lists 12,086 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 backup camera display recall?

Yes. Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge.

Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3KOMRUE.

When was recall 22V281 announced?

Daimler Vans USA, LLC reported recall 22V281 to NHTSA on April 27, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 20, 2022.

This recall was filed 53 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 22V281?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V281 is open on your Sprinter 1500, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Sprinter 1500 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Sprinter 1500 owners do about recall 22V281?

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 22V281000 applies to your Sprinter 1500.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
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. Write down when symptoms involving the display function happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
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 recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Sprinter 1500 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the rearview camera.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the rearview camera have been filed since recall 22V281 was reported (0) 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 0 of them involve the rearview camera. 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, 0 about the rearview camera
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500: 9 complaints in total, 0 about the rearview camera
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: 8 complaints in total, 0 about the rearview camera

Can recall 22V281 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.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

A rearview camera that blanks out or freezes is a safety issue because federal rules require a working backup image. Camera problems are often software related, and many owners see them come back after an update.

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 22V281