Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ Sprinter vs FORD F 150
How the Mercedes BENZ Sprinter and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mercedes BENZ Sprinter averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Mercedes BENZ Sprinter has 215 complaints and 90 recalls on record; FORD F 150 has 27,330 complaints and 141 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ Sprinter | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 215 Better | 27,330 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 90 Better | 141 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 26 Better | 754 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 21.5 Better | 2733.0 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 Better | 714 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 10 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mercedes BENZ Sprinter
- 01POWER TRAIN45
- 02STEERING37
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER34
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
- 05SERVICE BRAKES31
“My EIS module rendered my vehicle inoperable and left me stranded in the winter and left me stranded 54 miles away from the closest repair shop. Only because this is a know issue (see below) AND I had cell phone service enough to research this problem AND I h…”
“The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated while an employee was moving the vehicle out of the garage into the parking lot, the employee shifted the vehicle into PARK with the engine running. The contact exited the vehicle and whi…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,909
- 02ENGINE4,853
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,453
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,182
- 05STRUCTURE1,481
“When I am parking the truck, I press and hold the brake pedal, While the truck shifter in in "Drive", I press the start/stop button to shut truck down, the shifter gets stuck in "drive" and doesn't automatically shift in to park. The truck locks down and will…”
“My truck is a 2025 Ford F150 STX with 5,900 miles on it. This truck was purchased new at River City Ford in Lavalette, WV The component in questions seems to be involved with the turbos and more specifically the wastegate that attached to the turbos. Also, ye…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mercedes BENZ Sprinter — 90 recalls
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with a manual parking brake and 7-speed automatic transmission. The guide bushing on the parking pawl may fatigue, which can cause the parking pawl not to engage and resul…
The risk: Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software of the electronic stability, transmission control, direct select module, and electronic ignition switch control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2023. Owners may co…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles equipped with electrically adjustable front swivel-seats. The wiring harnesses for the swivel-seats may have been incorrectly installed and may become damaged, which can cause the front side air bags not to depl…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reattach the wiring harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is 549…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.
The risk: A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall i…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The topcoat paint formula may cause the windows and interior lashing rails to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle.
The risk: An insufficiently bonded window can detach during a crash, and objects secured to an insufficiently bonded interior lashing rail can detach, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the paint adhesion and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Depending on the extent of any damage, DVUSA may offer to repurchase the vehicle. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were m…
FORD F 150 — 141 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…
The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mercedes BENZ Sprinter | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 3 |
| 2025 | 0 | 307 |
| 2024 | 0 | 577 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1424 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3220 |
| 2021 | 0 | 4848 |
| 2020 | 0 | 2530 |
| 2019 | 215 | 5718 |
| 2018 | 0 | 5505 |
| 2017 | 0 | 3198 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mercedes BENZ Sprinter or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter vs FORD F 150
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter total complaints
- 215
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,330
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter total recalls
- 90
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter avg complaints/year
- 21.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2733.0
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN