2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 Instrument Cluster Recall (23V204)
Daimler Vans USA, LLC · 6,857 vehicles · Reported March 24, 2023
Daimler Vans USA, LLC is recalling 6,857 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V204 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V204000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | VS3KOMBAUS |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 24, 2023 |
| 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 | 6,857 |
| Component | Electrical System > Instrument Cluster / Panel |
| Safety risk | A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 in recall 23V204?
The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Sprinter 1500 with recall 23V204?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, 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 instrument cluster and panel, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V204?
Recall 23V204 covers 6,857 vehicles: 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500.
NHTSA lists 6,857 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 instrument cluster recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the instrument cluster software on the affected vehicles, free of charge.
Dealers will update the instrument cluster software on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3KOMBAUS.
When was recall 23V204 announced?
Daimler Vans USA, LLC reported recall 23V204 to NHTSA on March 24, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 5, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 24, 2023 | Daimler Vans USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V204000. |
| May 5, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 42 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 23V204?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V204 is open on your Sprinter 1500, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V204000 is open on your Sprinter 1500, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number VS3KOMBAUS. You can also ask any Mercedes-Benz dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Sprinter 1500 owners do about recall 23V204?
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 23V204000 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the instrument cluster and panel happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- 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 111 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 18 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 23V204 was reported on March 24, 2023, owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 1 of them (7%) 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 electrical system and were received on or after March 24, 2023, 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 electrical system 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 18 of them involve the electrical system. 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, 9 about the electrical system
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500: 40 complaints in total, 8 about the electrical system
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500: 9 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: 8 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: 8 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
I did spend lots from my pocket to maintain this vehicle.I parked my vehicle for few days in my driveway.i try to start my vehicle once I get back from break.It won’t started.I even changed the new battery but I couldn’t be able to start.I towed to the dealership yesterday.
2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11567269, filed January 23, 2024
Charging issue with house battery side of class B camping van. It became somewhat apparent the system was not charging properly and quickly escalated to a high overcharge situation, followed by evidence of electrical short in smells and possible smoke in engine bay. The car was in for service for a month and a half.
2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 owner, OR, NHTSA complaint 11639645, filed January 30, 2025
Mercedes dealership refused to replace ism module and I'm driving with blank instrument panel! No rmp no mph no gas gauge no milage nothing! This vehicle is my only source of income as I'm a delivery driver! It's my only vehicle! I need this fixed now or I can't pay my bills! This part is…
2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11719282, filed February 20, 2026
Can recall 23V204 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 instrument cluster and panel 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)).
Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 back, and the problem shows up again.
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.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Sprinter 1500 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to 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.
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.
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 23V204
Did the recall 23V204 fix work?
Since recall 23V204 was reported on March 24, 2023, owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 1 of them (7%) 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 May 5, 2023.
Is the 23V204000 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 23V204000?
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.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
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 23V204000 (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.