The 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has 61 owner complaints with NHTSA across 6 component categories. Use this checklist before you put money down — every item below is grounded in the actual failure pattern on this vehicle, not generic advice.
1
Inspect the powertrain
What to look for: Hesitation on takeoff, harsh or delayed shifts, vibration at highway speed, fluid leaks on the driveway under the engine bay or transmission pan. (14 owner complaints on this vehicle
· typical repair $2,500 · failures cluster ~11,680 mi)
On the test drive: Drive 15+ minutes including a freeway on-ramp at full throttle, a steep hill, and stop-and-go traffic. Listen for clunks on shifts, flares between gears, and shudders during light acceleration at 30–50 mph (torque converter symptom).
What to look for: Anything that looks, sounds, or smells different from peer vehicles of the same year and trim. (12 owner complaints on this vehicle
· typical repair $1,100 · failures cluster ~22,000 mi)
What to look for: Dim or flickering dash lights at idle, slow window operation, intermittent infotainment glitches, parasitic battery drain (dead battery after a few days parked). (7 owner complaints on this vehicle
· typical repair $850 · failures cluster ~20,640 mi)
On the test drive: Cycle through every electronic accessory during the drive — heated seats, defrosters, climate fan on max, cruise control. Glitches show up under load.
What to look for: Pulsing brake pedal, pulling to one side when braking, squealing or grinding, soft pedal that goes to the floor. (6 owner complaints on this vehicle
· typical repair $450 · failures cluster ~12,173 mi)
On the test drive: Hard brake from 40 mph in a safe spot — pedal should be firm, stop should be straight. A pulse means warped rotors ($300–$600).
What to look for: Cruise that won't set, drops out on small inclines, jerky speed adjustment. (5 owner complaints on this vehicle
· typical repair $600 · failures cluster ~29,740 mi)
What to look for: Anything that looks, sounds, or smells different from peer vehicles of the same year and trim. (5 owner complaints on this vehicle
· typical repair $400 · failures cluster ~26,034 mi)
The seller's transparency on these tells you what kind of seller you're dealing with.
Inspection items derived from 61 owner complaints and 0 active recall campaigns filed
with NHTSA on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Category-specific guidance is written by ProblemsByVin contributors with ASE-certified mechanic
review. This checklist is meant to surface known patterns — it doesn't replace a paid pre-purchase inspection by a
qualified shop, which we recommend for any used vehicle priced over a few thousand dollars.