2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: CAUTION — 28 owner complaints, 1.0× the Sprinter 3500 median year by raw count; top issue: wheels (7 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2017 is 1.25, where 1.00 is a typical Sprinter 3500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. 37% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2014–2025 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
28
NHTSA complaints
1.0×
vs. median Sprinter 3500 year
94
Service bulletins
9
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems
Wheels leads a spread-out record, named in 25% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2017 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 7 | 25% |
| Electronic stability control | 7 | 25% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 18% |
| Speed control / throttle | 4 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 11% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 recalls
9 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2017, reported between Nov 21, 2017 and Feb 3, 2021.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 21V042000 | Feb 3, 2021 | Electronic stability control › Control module |
| 20V663000 | Oct 28, 2020 | Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections |
| 19V003000 | Jan 8, 2019 | Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module |
| 19V004000 | Jan 8, 2019 | Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module |
| 18V288000 | May 3, 2018 | Structure › Body |
| 18V113000 | Feb 15, 2018 | Equipment › Other › Labels |
| 17V804000 | Dec 14, 2017 | Lane departure › Assist |
| 17V786000 | Dec 8, 2017 | Equipment |
| 17V742000 | Nov 21, 2017 | Tires › Temporary/emergency spare tire |
2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 94 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2017 — close to the 101 of the median Sprinter 3500 year from 2014 to 2025. Coded bulletins most often cover engine (10), engine & cooling (9), electrical system (9). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2017 vs. the year before and after
From the 2016 to the 2017, owner complaints fell by more than half (61 → 28) — an improvement. The 2018 that followed fell by more than half (28 → 9), so the 2018 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Sprinter 3500 | AVOID | 61 | 124 | 16 | — |
| 2017 (this page) | CAUTION | 28 | 94 | 9 | — |
| 2018 Sprinter 3500 | TOO FEW REPORTS | 9 | 52 | 10 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500
Wheels (7 complaints on the 2017): check for bent rims and feel for vibration at highway speed.
Electronic stability control (7 complaints on the 2017): make sure the stability-control and ABS lights go out after start-up.
Service brakes (5 complaints on the 2017): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Speed control / throttle (4 complaints on the 2017): check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
Electrical system (3 complaints on the 2017): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Recalls: confirm all 9 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 reliable?
2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: CAUTION — 28 owner complaints, 1.0× the Sprinter 3500 median year by raw count; top issue: wheels (7 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2017 is 1.25, where 1.00 is a typical Sprinter 3500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 are wheels (7, 25%), electronic stability control (7, 25%), service brakes (5, 18%). The manufacturer has 94 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 have?
9 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500, most recently 21V042000 (Feb 3, 2021, electronic stability control); 20V663000 (Oct 28, 2020, steering); 19V003000 (Jan 8, 2019, air bags). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.