Total Complaints
4 filings
Freightliner Sprinter 2500 · model year
2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500
4 NHTSA complaints, and 2 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
- Complaints
- 4
- Recalls
- 2
The verdict
The 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 posts below-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
- Top 40%
- fewest complaints, own model years
- 2
- recall campaigns
The 2012FreightlinerSprinter 2500 carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2012 Sprinter 2500 is vehicle speed control with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and structure (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2012 Sprinter 2500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 - Not rated
· Front: Not Rated/5
· Side: Not Rated/5
· Rollover: Not Rated/5
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recalls (2)
17V48000028/07/2017
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012 Freightliner and Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled into the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event o
16V07700010/02/2016
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler Vans) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 31, 2008, 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2014, and 2010-2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 25
Recent Complaints
20170411UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I NEED TO KNOW IF THE RECALL FOR THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS IN EFFECT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS. MY HUSBAND DRIVES THIS VEHICLE EVERYDAY AND I WOULDN'T WANT A DEPOLYMENT OF THE BAG DUE TO A RUPTURE AND HE WOULD BE HURT. HOW DO I FIND OUT IF IT WAS DONE? I READ ABOUT THIS ON A TELEVISION INVESTIGATION AND IT MAKES ME NERVOUS.
20140710VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
LOCATION OF CRUISE CONTROL ARM IS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL ARM. ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION IS LIKELY AND HAS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE BY EITHER ACCIDENTAL CONTACT OF THE LEFT HAND WHILE STEERING OR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE TURN SIGNAL. THIS CONDITION IS COMPOUNDED BY THE ORIENTATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL ARM, WHERE AN UP OR DOWN MANIPULATION WILL 'SET' OR 'RESUME' THE CRUISE SPEED, BOTH OF WHICH CAN ACTIVATE THE CRUISE SYSTEM. SUCH MANIPULATION (UP OR DOWN) IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM'S RELATIVE POSITION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL CONTROL ARM. THIS CONDITION IS FURTHER COMPOUNDED BY THE LACK OF ANY INDICATION TO THE DRIVER THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. THERE IS ALSO NO SEPARATE CRUISE CONTROL ENABLE SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER TO BE AWARE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY ACTIVATE. THE RESULT OF THIS CONDITION IS THAT THE DRIVER MAY ACCIDENTALLY AND UNKNOWINGLY ACTIVATE THE VEHICLE
Mileage: 22,673
20140710ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LOCATION OF CRUISE CONTROL ARM IS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL ARM. ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION IS LIKELY AND HAS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE BY EITHER ACCIDENTAL CONTACT OF THE LEFT HAND WHILE STEERING OR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE TURN SIGNAL. THIS CONDITION IS COMPOUNDED BY THE ORIENTATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL ARM, WHERE AN UP OR DOWN MANIPULATION WILL 'SET' OR 'RESUME' THE CRUISE SPEED, BOTH OF WHICH CAN ACTIVATE THE CRUISE SYSTEM. SUCH MANIPULATION (UP OR DOWN) IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM'S RELATIVE POSITION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL CONTROL ARM. THIS CONDITION IS FURTHER COMPOUNDED BY THE LACK OF ANY INDICATION TO THE DRIVER THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. THERE IS ALSO NO SEPARATE CRUISE CONTROL ENABLE SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER TO BE AWARE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY ACTIVATE. THE RESULT OF THIS CONDITION IS THAT THE DRIVER MAY ACCIDENTALLY AND UNKNOWINGLY ACTIVATE THE VEHICLE
Mileage: 22,673
20140710STRUCTURE
LOCATION OF CRUISE CONTROL ARM IS TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL ARM. ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION IS LIKELY AND HAS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE BY EITHER ACCIDENTAL CONTACT OF THE LEFT HAND WHILE STEERING OR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE TURN SIGNAL. THIS CONDITION IS COMPOUNDED BY THE ORIENTATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL ARM, WHERE AN UP OR DOWN MANIPULATION WILL 'SET' OR 'RESUME' THE CRUISE SPEED, BOTH OF WHICH CAN ACTIVATE THE CRUISE SYSTEM. SUCH MANIPULATION (UP OR DOWN) IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM'S RELATIVE POSITION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL CONTROL ARM. THIS CONDITION IS FURTHER COMPOUNDED BY THE LACK OF ANY INDICATION TO THE DRIVER THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. THERE IS ALSO NO SEPARATE CRUISE CONTROL ENABLE SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER TO BE AWARE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM MAY ACTIVATE. THE RESULT OF THIS CONDITION IS THAT THE DRIVER MAY ACCIDENTALLY AND UNKNOWINGLY ACTIVATE THE VEHICLE
Mileage: 22,673
Compare 2012FreightlinerSprinter 2500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE24032Preliminary EvaluationClosed
EVDM connector plate separation
PE21006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
PE21002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Trolley bus circuit breaker fires
PE20014Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
PE20006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
Vehicle Safety Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 have?▼
The 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500?▼
The 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500?▼
Yes, the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and STRUCTURE.
Is the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2012 Freightliner Sprinter 2500; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.