NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V078000 Possible Exhaust Leak May cause Fire

February 12, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V078000
Possible Exhaust Leak May cause Fire
If the connecting screws are not properly tightened, hot exhaust gases may leak from the EGR pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V078000

Manufacturer Daimler Vans USA, LLC

Components ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Potential Number of Units Affected 4,424

Summary

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The connecting screws on the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) pipe may not have been correctly tightened.

Remedy

DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner Sprinter dealers will renew the screw connection and the flange seals on the exhaust gas recirculation pipe, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3AGROHR.

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.

8 Affected Products
3 Associated Documents
Request Research (Services fees apply)

NHTSA Recall ID Number : 20V078
Manufacturer : Daimler Vans USA, LLC
Subject : Possible Exhaust Leak May cause Fire
Make Model Model Years
FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 1500 2019
FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 2019
FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 2019
FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 4500 2019
MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 1500 2019
MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 2500 2019
MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 3500 2019
MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER 4500 2019

Winterbagoal, THANK YOU for this post!! I've owned my van since new Dec 2019 and since day 1 I could swear I can hear an exhaust leak on acceleration. I've taken it to the dealer once and since there were no CEL's present they really couldn't do anything. That said once I saw this post I immediately did more research on this Recall.

It appears it effects 100% of Sprinter/Freightliner vans manufactured between 9/4/2018 - 7/30/2019 (My MFD 5/2019)
Total vehicles effected: 4424
Risk:
"If the connecting screws are not tightened according to specification, the
flange surface at the end of the EGR pipe may not be completely sealed. In
that case, hot exhaust gas could leak into the engine compartment, resulting
inthermal damage to immediately surrounding components. Therefore, a
potential thermal reaction cannot be ruled out."

Dealers will be notified of the pending recall ~ March 20,2020. Owners will be getting notified beginning March 27,2020.

More details here:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2020/RCLRPT-20V078-4307.PDF

I would prefer not to wait until the end of March to have this checked. However, I'm afraid that if the dealers haven't yet been notified they wont do anything about it.

Anyone have any info on which EGR pipe this could be? Pics would be great! I'd like to do some checking myself. Thanks!

You're welcome.
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