2011 Sprinter 3500 Recalled for Rear Spring Manufacturing Defect
NHTSA recalls 2011 Sprinter 3500 vans due to rear springs with out-of-tolerance eye diameters that may crack over time, increasing crash risk.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (rear suspension springs) that increases the risk of a crash, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a Severe (4) rating.
Plain-English summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sprinter 3500 vehicles sold under the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brand names. The recall addresses a defect in the rear springs where the supplier rolled the spring eye diameter out of tolerance on a limited number of parts. The supplier subsequently corrected the diameter without heating the parts, which is required for proper metal treatment.
This manufacturing error could potentially lead to a crack in the spring eye over time. A cracked spring eye increases the risk of a crash. The source text does not report any specific injuries or fatalities associated with this defect.
Owners will be contacted by the manufacturer, and dealers will replace the rear springs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall was expected to begin during November 2011. Owners may contact Sprinter at 1-877-762-8267 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled product
- Product
- SPRINTER 3500
- Brand
- SPRINTER
- Manufacturer
- SPRINTER ENGINEERING & COMPLIANCE SUPPOR
- Category
- Vehicle — Commercial Van
- Affected units
- 47
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (1)
- 3500
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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