2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 Wiring Recall (24V166)
Daimler Vans USA, LLC · 828 vehicles · Reported March 1, 2024
Daimler Vans USA, LLC is recalling 828 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 vehicles. The main wiring harness may chafe against the drive shaft and short circuit, which can result in a loss of drive power, power steering, and brake system control. A short circuit increases the risk of a fire. In addition, a loss of drive power, power steering, and brake system control increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V166 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V166000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | VS3BEFHAU |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 1, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 |
| Units affected | 828 |
| Component | Electrical System > Wiring |
| Safety risk | A short circuit increases the risk of a fire. In addition, a loss of drive power, power steering, and brake system control increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 in recall 24V166?
The main wiring harness may chafe against the drive shaft and short circuit, which can result in a loss of drive power, power steering, and brake system control.
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The main wiring harness may chafe against the drive shaft and short circuit, which can result in a loss of drive power, power steering, and brake system control.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Sprinter 1500 with recall 24V166?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire. In addition, a loss of drive power, power steering, and brake system control increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire. In addition, a loss of drive power, power steering, and brake system control 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 wiring.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V166?
Recall 24V166 covers 828 vehicles: 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500; 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500; 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500.
NHTSA lists 828 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter 1500 |
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter 2500 |
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter 3500 |
What is the fix for the Sprinter 1500 wiring recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the routing of the main wiring harness and correct it, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the routing of the main wiring harness and correct it, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3BEFHAU.
When was recall 24V166 announced?
Daimler Vans USA, LLC reported recall 24V166 to NHTSA on March 1, 2024. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 5, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2024 | Daimler Vans USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V166000. |
| April 5, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 31 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 24V166?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V166 is open on your Sprinter 1500, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 24V166000 is open on your Sprinter 1500, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number VS3BEFHAU. 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 24V166?
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 24V166000 applies to your Sprinter 1500.
- Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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 wiring 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 36 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the electrical system.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the electrical system have been filed since recall 24V166 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 36 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 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.
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500: 17 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: 17 complaints in total, 3 about the electrical system
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
On January 19, 2026, my neighbors / daughter noticed smoke was coming from under the van that had been parked for over 3 hours. Shortly after, he confirmed the van had caught fire. I asked him to call the fire department.
2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11748198, filed July 3, 2026
Can recall 24V166 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 wiring 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)).
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same wiring problem is common in lemon law claims.
This campaign follows an earlier recall for the same issue. A second recall can mean the first remedy failed, and repeated repair attempts on the same defect are the core of most lemon law claims.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 21V779000, 22V491000, 23V101000.
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.
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 24V166
Is the 24V166000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed April 5, 2024.
How do I know if my Sprinter 1500 is part of recall 24V166000?
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 24V166000 (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.