| Issue ID | 1651007 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 11317084 |
| Manufacurer | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
| Brand | MERCEDES-BENZ |
| Model | SPRINTER 2500 |
| Model Year | 2019 |
| File date | 03/03/20 |
| Component | SERVICE BRAKES |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | New purchase 02-29-2020; the mercedes sprinter 2500 that was upfitted by airstream into the airstream interstate nineteen. I drove about 60 miles and when backing from a parking spot i felt a sudden grab/jolt from the right front undercarriage as if backed over a dog/child. Thankfully nothing. Three more times this occurred over two days but w/o finding a cause i chose to drive 800 miles to seattle from california via i-5. About 40 miles enroute i was going 70 mph on a straight, slight downgrade stretch when the vehicle suddenly grabbed to the right with a short/abrupt jerk on the steering wheel. This was the same as the backward but now forward and frightening. Fortunately i had both hands on the wheel with a firm grip due to the unfamiliar dark roadway and downgrade stretch. This occurred five other times over the next 70-100 miles at a reduced speed of 40-50 with a firm grip on the wheel and expecting it so i stayed in the far left lane to avoid going off the roadway on the right. The following day i resumed the drive at about 40-50 mph and felt the same grab intermittently. I called mercedes roadside assist through the vehicles electronic connections on the nav/media screen and they prompted me through deactivating the brake assist. I deactivated all the other sensor devices like lane assist, parktronics etc that i could find to be as sure as possible it was not going to occur again while driving. These electronic systems reactivate each time you turn the ignition off so i had to remember to do that prior to driving each time i stopped. I drove the 800 miles home w/o the sensors active and the problem did not recur. Airstream's upfit makes it less stable and the weight now about 10,000-13-000 pounds very dangerous. If cruise control was engaged much more of a problem or winding roads. I'm a retired commercial pilot and it scared me; needs investigated soon. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 130 |
| Number of Occurences | |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | WOODINVILLE, WA |
| VIN pattern | WDAPF0CD6KPXXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | N |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | |
| No. of fatalities | |
| Date of purchase | 07/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
| Number of cylinders | |
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| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | 70 |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |