Total Complaints
6 filings
FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 · model year
2012 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500
6 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2012FREIGHTLINERSPRINTER 3500 carries 6 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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 SPRINTER 3500 is service brakes with 2 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (2) and power train (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2012 SPRINTER 3500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
Recalls (3)
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
21V04200003/02/2021
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit may become disabled on these vehicles.
Recent Complaints
20230112SERVICE BRAKES
THE VEHICLE DASH BOARD HAD 4 {ECM, ABS, TRACTION AND SKID} LIGHTS, REDUCED SPEED TO 20MPH ON THE HIGHWAY RPM INCREASED OVER 3000 LOST ABILITY FOR ABS, STEARING CONTROL AND SPEED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS P003A AND P0037 POINTING TO BOTH REAR WHEEL SPEED SONSORS.
20230112WHEELS
THE VEHICLE DASH BOARD HAD 4 {ECM, ABS, TRACTION AND SKID} LIGHTS, REDUCED SPEED TO 20MPH ON THE HIGHWAY RPM INCREASED OVER 3000 LOST ABILITY FOR ABS, STEARING CONTROL AND SPEED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS P003A AND P0037 POINTING TO BOTH REAR WHEEL SPEED SONSORS.
20230112VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE DASH BOARD HAD 4 {ECM, ABS, TRACTION AND SKID} LIGHTS, REDUCED SPEED TO 20MPH ON THE HIGHWAY RPM INCREASED OVER 3000 LOST ABILITY FOR ABS, STEARING CONTROL AND SPEED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS P003A AND P0037 POINTING TO BOTH REAR WHEEL SPEED SONSORS.
20221030SERVICE BRAKES
ABS SPEED SENSOR, TRACTION REAR SPEED SENSOR FAULT CODE C0037 AND C003A. SPEED REDUCES TO 20MPH HIGH ENGINE RPM REV OVER 3000 RPM
20221030POWER TRAIN
ABS SPEED SENSOR, TRACTION REAR SPEED SENSOR FAULT CODE C0037 AND C003A. SPEED REDUCES TO 20MPH HIGH ENGINE RPM REV OVER 3000 RPM
20221030VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ABS SPEED SENSOR, TRACTION REAR SPEED SENSOR FAULT CODE C0037 AND C003A. SPEED REDUCES TO 20MPH HIGH ENGINE RPM REV OVER 3000 RPM
Compare 2012FREIGHTLINERSPRINTER 3500 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2012 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 have?▼
The 2012 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2012 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500?▼
The 2012 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 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 3500?▼
Yes, the 2012 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 has 3 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 3500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2012 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 is SERVICE BRAKES with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2012 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 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 3500 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.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.