2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 Park Pawl Recall (22V796)
Daimler Vans USA, LLC · 124,305 vehicles · Reported October 21, 2022
Daimler Vans USA, LLC is recalling 124,305 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 vehicles. The guide bushing on the parking pawl may fatigue, which can cause the parking pawl not to engage and result in vehicle rollaway. Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V796 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V796000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 22V2790611,2,3 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 21, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 |
| Units affected | 124,305 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission > Internal > Park Pawl |
| Safety risk | Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 in recall 22V796?
The guide bushing on the parking pawl may fatigue, which can cause the parking pawl not to engage and result in vehicle rollaway.
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with a manual parking brake and 7-speed automatic transmission. The guide bushing on the parking pawl may fatigue, which can cause the parking pawl not to engage and result in vehicle rollaway.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Sprinter 1500 with recall 22V796?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the park pawl.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V796?
Recall 22V796 covers 124,305 vehicles: 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500.
NHTSA lists 124,305 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter 1500 |
| 2021-2022 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter 2500 |
| 2021-2022 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter 3500 |
What is the fix for the Sprinter 1500 park pawl recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the software of the electronic stability, transmission control, direct select module, and electronic ignition switch control units, free of charge.
Dealers will update the software of the electronic stability, transmission control, direct select module, and electronic ignition switch control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's numbers for this recall are 22V2790611, 22V2790612, and 22V2790613.
Manufacturer recall number: 22V2790611,2,3.
When was recall 22V796 announced?
Daimler Vans USA, LLC reported recall 22V796 to NHTSA on October 21, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as February 10, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 21, 2022 | Daimler Vans USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V796000. |
| February 10, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 48 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 22V796?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V796 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 22V796000. 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 22V796?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V796000 applies to your Sprinter 1500.
- 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.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any park pawl symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- 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 111 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 11 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 22V796 was reported on October 21, 2022, owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 3 of them (38%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after October 21, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 111 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 11 of them involve the transmission. 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, 5 about the transmission
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500: 40 complaints in total, 3 about the transmission
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500: 9 complaints in total, 2 about the transmission
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: 8 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: 8 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
I was driving on rural roads about 20 mph slowing for a stop light and the back of my vehicle began bucking and making very loud banging noises. I looked under the vehicle and found both welds to the rear differential were sheared off and the axle was only held on by the rear suspension.
2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11442735, filed December 5, 2021
Vehicle is unable to move apparently because of a design flaw that allows water to travel down cables into the EIS as described here [XXX] and here [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 owner, WY, NHTSA complaint 11607908, filed August 12, 2024
CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN: Vehicle shifts into NEUTRAL during normal start sequence, could roll over passengers. Component of concern: Electronic "Wiper" stalk shifter is easily shifted into NEUTRAL during normal start sequence. Problem encountered several times in our 2021 Mercedes Sprinter- the stalk shifter is located directly in front of the "START/STOP" ignition button.
2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11683080, filed August 26, 2025
Can recall 22V796 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.
Owners often ask whether this park pawl recall means their Sprinter 1500 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Transmission problems tend to come back. Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement and sudden loss of drive power often return after a dealer reflashes software or replaces a part, and each return trip to the dealer is another repair attempt on the record.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Sprinter 1500 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V796
Did the recall 22V796 fix work?
Since recall 22V796 was reported on October 21, 2022, owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 3 of them (38%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed February 10, 2023.
Is the 22V796000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Sprinter 1500 is part of recall 22V796000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V796000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Mercedes-Benz. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.