2019-2020 Freightliner Sprinter Instrument Cluster Display Too Bright

April 5, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V235000

Instrument Cluster Display Too Bright/FMVSS 101

A display that is too bright can hinder the driver’s vision, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V235

Manufacturer Daimler Vans USA, LLC

Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Potential Number of Units Affected 1,285

 

Summary

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The multifunctional display in the instrument cluster may not be adjustable and appear too bright in certain lighting conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, “Control and Displays.”

 

Remedy

DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 28, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA’s number for this recall is VS3DISPKI.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check for Daimler Vans Recalls

 

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TO:  Freightliner Principals, General Managers, Sales Managers, Service Managers, Parts Managers	FROM: Anthony Washington, Department Manager, Regulations and Certifications
Re: Recall Campaign Launch Notification Model 907 (Sprinter) Model Years 2019-2020 Reprogram Multifunction Display	DATE:  May, 2021

 

IMPORTANT RECALL CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

 

Please see the attached documents related to the campaign listed above

 

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Campaign No. :	Campaign Desc. :		Reprogram Multifunction Display
2021050001	VS3DISPKI
This is to notify you of the Recall Campaign launch to reprogram the Multifunction Display on approximately 2 MY19-20 Freightliner Sprinter vans. The recall campaign will be visible on the www.safercar.gov website and may generate questions from customers.  All affected VINs will be flagged “OPEN” in VMI and cannot be sold until the recall has been remedied.
Background
Issue	Mercedes-Benz AG (MBAG), the manufacturer of Freightliner vans, has determined that on certain platform 907 (VS30) Sprinter vehicles, the degree of illumination of the multifunctional display in the instrument cluster may not be adjustable as specified in FMVSS 101 (Controls and Displays).  Affected vehicles that do not meet the illumination adjustment requirements for the instrument cluster do not comply with FMVSS 101, which could increase the risk of a crash if the instrument cluster is too bright for the ambient conditions.
What We’re Doing	An authorized Freightliner Sprinter dealer will conduct a software update for the instrument cluster on the affected vehicles.
Remedy	Software is Available
Vehicles Affected
Vehicle Model Year(s)	2019-2020
Vehicle Model (s)	Sprinter(907)
Vehicle Populations
Total Recall	2
Dealer Inventory	0
Given this notice, it is a violation of Federal Law for a dealer to sell or lease any new Sprinter vehicles in dealer inventory covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.   Loaner and demonstrator vehicles may continue to be driven, but must not be retailed until repaired.   Additionally, given this notice, it is a violation of Federal Law for rental companies to rent new Sprinter vehicles covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.
Next Steps/Notes
Customer Notification Timeline		An owner notification letter will be mailed in End of May 2021.
AOMS/SOMS		AOMs – This recall may generate questions from your dealers. Please forward this notice to your dealers ASAP.
Rental Fleet Partners		This recall may affect vehicles in your fleet. Please contact your respective DVUSA fleet representative for further information and next steps. For repairs, please contact your preferred DVUSA dealer.
While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, we are determined to maintain a high level of vehicle quality and customer satisfaction.

 

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Campaign No. 2021050001, May, 2021

 

TO:	ALL MERCEDES-BENZ & FREIGHTLINER CENTERS
SUBJECT:	Model 907 Sprinter, Model Year 2019-2021 Reprogram Multifunction Display

 

Mercedes-Benz AG (MBAG), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vans, has determined that on certain platform 907 (VS30) Sprinter vehicles, the degree of illumination in the multifunctional display in the instrument cluster may not be adjustable as specified in FMVSS 101 (Controls and Displays). Affected vehicles that do not meet the illumination adjustment requirements for the instrument cluster do not comply with FMVSS 101, which could increase the risk of a crash if the instrument cluster is too bright for the ambient conditions. An authorized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dealer will conduct a software update for the instrument cluster on the affected vehicles.

 

Prior to performing this Recall Campaign:

• Please check VMI to determine if the vehicle is involved in the Campaign and if it has been previously repaired.
• Please review the entire Recall Campaign bulletin and follow the repair procedure exactly as described.

 

Please note that Recall Campaigns do not expire and may also be performed on a vehicle with a vehicle status indicator.

 

Approximately 1,284 vehicles are involved.

Order No. V-RC-2021050001 This bulletin has been created and maintained in accordance with MBUSA-SLP S423QH001, Document and Data Control, and MBUSA-SLP S424HH001, Control of Quality Records.

 

V-RC-2021050001

 

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Beginning in mid-January 2021, MBAG became aware of an isolated field complaint which described that the brightness of multifunction display was not functioning as expected and appeared to be overly bright to this particular consumer. In conjunction with that report, MBAG also became aware of a VOQ (#11389057), which included a similar complaint related to the brightness of the multifunction display and that the consumer had difficulty using the exterior side mirrors because of glare from the instrument cluster.  MBAG initiated an investigation and found that the two vehicles were equipped with a “Highline” instrument cluster in combination with an entry-level variant radio or without infotainment system.  This combination of equipment suggested a connection between the performance of the multifunction display and these specific vehicle options. As a precautionary measure MBAG prohibited further vehicles from being ordering or produced with this combination of features beginning in February 2021, until the issue could be further analyzed.   MBAG also reviewed its internal databases for other potentially related reports from the field and found a small number of isolated reports from the European market had been received in 2020 where the customer described that the instrument cluster could not be dimmed.  In some instances, the condition could not be reproduced at the workshop.

 

On February 8, 2021, NHTSA forwarded to Daimler Vans USA the VOQ noted above and requested the company’s feedback on the condition that the customer had reported.  Daimler Vans provided an initial response to the inquiry on February 19, 2021 and in the first week of March 2021, it further advised that the company was continuing to conduct its investigation and provided an estimated timeline for completion of its analysis.

 

Throughout March 2021, MBAG conducted laboratory tests where vehicles were evaluated under various conditions of brightness and darkness.  MBAG’s analysis excluded the possibility of glare of the side mirrors due to reflections from the instrument cluster, however, after an analysis of the FMVSS 101 requirements related to illumination and brightness, on March 30, 2021, MBAG determined a noncompliance existed in the vehicles.

 

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16 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
FREIGHTLINER	SPRINTER 1500	2019-2020
FREIGHTLINER	SPRINTER 2500	2019-2020
FREIGHTLINER	SPRINTER 3500	2019-2020
FREIGHTLINER	SPRINTER 4500	2019-2020
MERCEDES-BENZ	SPRINTER 1500	2019-2020
MERCEDES-BENZ	SPRINTER 2500	2019-2020
MERCEDES-BENZ	SPRINTER 3500	2019-2020
MERCEDES-BENZ	SPRINTER 4500	2019-2020

 

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10 Associated Documents

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2021-2

RCLQRT-21V235-8116.PDF 211.146KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-21V235-9311.pdf 184.585KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-21V235-7032.pdf 202.162KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-21V235-0345.pdf 1216.677KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-21V235-6642.pdf 1208.789KB

 

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Chronology

RMISC-21V235-3546.pdf 59.724KB

 

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Noncompliance Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-21V235-2868.PDF 215.179KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-21V235-8423.pdf 645.866KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2021-4

RCLQRT-21V235-8198.PDF 211.333KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2021-3

RCLQRT-21V235-4723.PDF 211.243KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=21V235&docType=RCL

 

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Mercedes-Benz Reprogramming

J2534 Pass-Thru

CarDAQ-Plus - PassThru J2534 Vehicle Reflash Hardware
CarDAQ-M Modular PassThru J2534 Vehicle Reflash Hardware
CarDAQ-Plus 2
VSI J2534 ECU Reprogrammer
Autel (AULMF2534) MaxiFlash Pro

 

All information in regard to Mercedes-Benz J2534 compliant software is available free of charge and found under the MB Workshop Resources tab on the home page of www.startekinfo.com

J2534 complaint software for Mercedes-Benz vehicles is available for purchase from Mercedes-Benz USA.

In order to use the J2534 complaint software for Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the purchaser must furnish their own:

• Windows based PC or laptop^*

• J2534 compliant interface box^*1*

^*Must be purchased from a third party company and are not available from Mercedes-Benz USA LLC.

^*1* suggested listing of J2534 interface boxes is located within the J2534 Pass-Thru User’s Manual which is posted for view without cost under the MB Workshop Resources tab on the home page of www.startekinfo.com

 

Vehicle Coverage

J2534 complaint software for Mercedes-Benz vehicles has coverage for all required functions associated to reprogramming, initialization, and fault clearing of emission control modules (engine and transmission) fitted to vehicles 2004 Model Year and newer. Additionally all access and functionality required in regard the configuration via SCN Coding and/or CVN Coding is covered.

J2534 complaint software for Mercedes-Benz vehicles is delivered via DVD media which is delivered monthly for the license term of one year upon purchase.

• All control unit software (reprogramming calibrations) is contained within J2534 DVD media.

 

Terms and conditions

J2534 complaint software for Mercedes-Benz vehicles is purchased in 1-year license increments. During that license term the user will receive an initial software package, license key, SCN/CVN Coding information/access as well as monthly updates via DVD media.

• Additional updates of software after the 1st year can be purchased at additional cost, however are not required for the system to continue functioning.

For pricing and additional information via the internet, please refer to the information at the beginning of this section.

www.startekinfo.com

 

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Last update on 2025-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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