While Sprinter Vans are very useful cargo vehicles, they’re also not without their problems. And even though they are pretty amazing vehicles, it’s important to understand some of the common issues to look out for when owning a Sprinter Van.

Sprinter Vans are commonly associated with cargo vehicles; however, not all cargo vehicles are Sprinters. When it comes down to it, the Sprinter Vans you see in North America are manufactured by Mercedes-Benz. And to put it simply, Sprinter is the name of the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz manufactures Sprinters in several different sizes. With the cargo van as the most common variation, you see out on the roads. However, they are also available as passenger vans as well. You can customize the length, wheel size, height, and maximum cargo capacity to fit whichever your needs are.

So, despite the customization options for Sprinter Vans, their popularity, and overall flexibility, there are a few common sprinter van issues to be aware of when it comes to future repairs.

Here are the Top 5 Most Common Sprinter Repairs in Dallas, Texas.

Fuel Injector Leakage.

This occurs when the copper seal ring between the cylinder head and fuel injector fails, causing combustion gasses to seep out and create a build-up of black muck around the injector compartment.

It’s an incredibly expensive repair depending on the severity of the progression.

Glow Plug Failure.

Glow plugs can be an expensive repair if they break off and get stuck in the cylinder head. However, they can also simply fail after old age.

“Rumble Strip” Noise.

This happens when the torque converter lock clutch wears down and creates shuddering/vibrating sounds– similar to when driving over a rumble strip on the highway. This isn’t exclusively due to transmission fluid; however incorrect transmission fluid or the lack of fluid is a common cause of this as well.

DEF Heater Failure.

This is when the AdBlue/DEF tank’s heater burns out and causes the check engine light to activate. The heater is there to prevent the AdBlue/DEF from freezing, and while it isn’t necessarily a noticeable issue in warm weather, during the winter months it will cause the DEF to freeze.

Sprinter Power Loss.

Due to strict EPA emissions guidelines, Sprinter Vans have systems built into them to turn the turbocharger off when an issue arises. This often occurs because of faulty swirl flap motors, EGR valves, leaking intercoolers, turbo actuators, turbo resonators, and cooler hoses.

Often times, people will replace the turbos when they aren’t the root cause of the issues. It’ll typically be due to the emission system shutting it down.

The Sprinter Center provides high quality, quick, and efficient Sprinter Van diagnosis and repairs.

The Sprinter Center has a team of highly trained professionals experienced in repairing, modifying, and converting Sprinter Vans and other large vehicles. We have stations designed specifically for larger vehicles and offer quick and efficient work like nowhere else in Dallas, TX.