Daimler, which owns both the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brands, has announced a second recall of 124,305 vehicles that might roll away while in park. The recall follows a U.S. government investigation into the issue which, so far, has resulted in a previous recall in late October.
The recall involved 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with a manual parking brake and 7-speed automatic transmission that were built from March 2, 2018, to October 17, 2022. The guide bushing on the parking pawl may fatigue, which can cause the parking pawl not to engage and result in vehicle rollaway. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 19, 2022. The recall number is 22V-796.
This second recall includes the following vehicles:
- 2019 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500
- 2019 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500
- 2019 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500
- 2019 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500
- 2019 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz Freightliner Sprinter 1500
- 2019 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz Freightliner Sprinter 2500
- 2019 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz Freightliner Sprinter 3500
- 2019 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz Freightliner Sprinter 4500
Daimler pointed to a software problem – as well as unspecified “driving practices” as the cause of the excess wear.
##RVT1081b
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The trouble with modern vehicles is they have between 1000 to 3000 computer chips controlled by a computer. You never know what they control. Two weeks ago I couldn’t open the drivers door on my 2021 Ford F150 Hybrid from the inside and had trouble also on the outside. Took it to the dealer and he updated the door locks computers program. Well this week the door lock froze again and wouldn’t open from the inside. Had to get my brake controllers update twice, windshield wipers failed. Got a ten year 150,000 mile warranty on my tailgate since some open on them self. New vehicles with electronics are a nightmare.
Interesting Bob. While I was waiting for my Expedition in the service dept. I was in the show room sitting in a Lincoln. I couldn’t open the door sitting in the driver’s seat and had to wait for a salesman to open it from the outside. I wondered about having an emergency and not being able to get out.
This is why you ALWAYS apply the parking brake.
This is why you don’t buy over engineered German vehicles, they probably made it so complicated it can’t work!
Yes, stick with domestic, they never have recalls. Oh, I do remember Ford had a very similar recall for 3 million vehicles a few months ago. Lol.
I always apply the parking brake for the very reason that the transmission could fail to hold. That’s why vehicles have parking brakes!
And then there is my husband who does not want me to ever apply the parking brake because he believes using it will cause it to be stuck in the engaged position.
In the winter in the snow belt with drum brakes some conditions could exist where moisture would get into the brake drum and if the brakes weren’t applied enough to heat up the drum and evaporate the moisture the shoes could freeze to the drum. I had this happen one time years ago when I had a driveway that didn’t require the use of brakes to stop. Luckily it didn’t last long, afterwards I always rode the brake pedal going in the driveway.
Yep Bob, I remember having to rock the car to get the brakes to break loose and then ride the brakes for a while to heat them up and dry them out.. No computer chips, just a cable running from hand brake to the rear drums. I’m glad I ended up in Florida. Just yesterday, as a mater of fact, I showed my Florida born son-in-law my old tire chains to see if he could figure out what they were.
The recall states that the vehicles being recalled are “equipped with a manual parking brake” . Now in this computerized world, maybe manual parking brakes are computerized, who knows. It wouldn’t surprise me. We are back to horse and buggy – we have to chock the wheels.
I remember back in the 50’s GM Hydramatic transmissions didn’t have a PARK selection on the column shifter. You had to use the parking brake or wheel chocks. The selections were: NDSLR