The 2016 Metris with the M274 2.0L turbo is a commercial-grade van that suffers from catastrophic engine failures and transmission cooling issues, both well-documented across the fleet. When it runs, it's solid, but the engine grenading itself is a real and expensive risk.
Symptoms: Sudden loss of power with loud knocking noise, Metal shavings in oil, visible on dipstick, Check engine light with misfire codes, Complete engine seizure in worst cases
Fix: This is the big one: connecting rod bearings fail, pistons crack, or crankshaft journals get scored. Often requires complete engine rebuild or replacement. We're talking 30-40 labor hours for a long-block swap, more if you rebuild in-frame. Root cause seems to be oil starvation under sustained high load or extended oil change intervals. Seen it enough that it's not a fluke.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure and Leak
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid pooling under vehicle, Harsh shifting or slipping after warm-up, Transmission overheating warning light, Pink or red fluid mixing with coolant in overflow tank (cooler is in radiator)
Fix: The external transmission cooler or the cooler lines corrode and leak, or the internal cooler in the radiator fails and cross-contaminates. External cooler replacement is 3-4 hours; if the internal cooler leaked into coolant, you're flushing both systems and possibly replacing the radiator too. Transmission can be damaged if driven long with contaminated fluid. This is a known weak point on these 7G-Tronic units in commercial service.
Estimated cost: $800-2,200
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle, especially in Drive, Visible sagging of transmission when inspected from below, Shifter feels notchy or misaligned
Fix: The rear transmission mount (sometimes called the crossmember mount) is rubber and fails early, especially in cargo-loaded vans. It's a 2-3 hour job with a transmission jack to support the trans while swapping the mount. Not hard, but you need the right tools. OE part is expensive; aftermarket options exist but quality varies.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Electric Power Steering (EPS) Assist Loss
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Sudden loss of power steering assist while driving, Red steering wheel warning light with message on dash, Steering becomes extremely heavy, especially at low speeds, May reset after ignition cycle, then fail again
Fix: Recalls issued for this, but not all units covered or fixed. EPS control module or the steering column assist motor fails. Diagnosis is 1 hour, module replacement is another 2-3 hours depending on access. If the motor itself is bad, you're looking at steering column removal. Absolutely a safety issue—losing assist at low speed in a van this size is dangerous. Check recall status before buying any used Metris.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,800
Fuel Filter Clogging and Fuel Delivery Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting, especially when cold, Loss of power under acceleration or uphill, Engine stumbling or surging at highway speed, Check engine light with lean fuel trim codes
Fix: The in-tank fuel filter isn't on the standard maintenance schedule but should be. When it clogs, you get weak fuel delivery and the engine runs lean or stalls. Replacing it means dropping the tank, which is 4-5 hours of labor on a Metris because of the tank shields and exhaust routing. Mercedes spec fuel is critical—cheap gas accelerates clogging. This isn't a wear item people think about until it bites them.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Transmission Software Glitches and Harsh Shifting
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Delayed or harsh upshifts, especially 2nd to 3rd, Transmission hunting for gears on slight inclines, Occasional refusal to downshift when accelerating, Check engine light with transmission adaptation codes
Fix: The 7G-Tronic transmission control software in early Metris units is poorly calibrated for the turbo four's torque curve. Mercedes issued updates, but many vans never got them. Reflash takes 1 hour at a dealer or indie with XENTRY. Sometimes requires transmission adaptation reset and a relearn drive cycle. Not a mechanical failure, but annoying enough that owners think the trans is toast. Always do the software update first before throwing parts at shift complaints.
Estimated cost: $150-300
Owner tips
Change engine oil every 5,000 miles maximum, not the 10k interval Mercedes claims—this engine does not tolerate extended drains, especially under load.
Inspect transmission cooler lines and external cooler for seepage every oil change; catching a leak early saves the transmission.
Check for software updates at every service; many driveability and reliability issues are solved with reflashes that owners never got.
If buying used, get a pre-purchase inspection that includes oil analysis and borescope inspection of cylinders—early bearing wear shows up in oil before it grenades.
Buy only if it has full service records showing short oil changes and all recalls completed; the engine failure risk is real and not worth gambling on a $6,000 van that needs a $12,000 engine.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris vans. The value for the maximum combined load weight capacity of the tires is incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire and Loading Information."
Consequence: An overloaded vehicle may cause tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install corrected labels on the B-pillar and fuel filler door. Dealers will also inspect and replace incorrect tires, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning April 19, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2LASTRE.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 22V099000
2022-02-22
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. A defective memory chip in the rearview camera may cause the display image to freeze.
Consequence: A frozen rearview image does not show the live view of what is currently behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2RU54KAM.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID · 22V066000
2022-02-08
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The brake fluid reservoir may be incorrectly mounted, which can allow it to detach.
Consequence: A detached brake fluid reservoir can leak brake fluid, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake fluid reservoir mounting, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 2, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2BE42BRE.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 21V055000
2021-02-05
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris and 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
Consequence: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the software communication module for the automatic emergency call system, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VSXHERMPOS.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY · 19V715000
2019-10-08
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The integrated backup battery compartment located underneath the front passenger's seat may not have its own cover, potentially exposing the battery when the seat is moved forward.
Consequence: If conductive material, such as metal, unintentionally drops into the opening and contacts the terminals on the battery, an electrical short can occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz dealers will install covers over the battery compartment area, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on December 2, 2019. The recall began March 9, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2SITZAB.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 19V290000
2019-04-10
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Metris vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the aluminum bolts with steels bolts, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on June 3, 2019. The recall began November 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2SCHRALU.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 18V837000
2018-11-29 · PE18002
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The fuel hose in the engine compartment may leak at the lower connecting point of the transition hose, between the underbody fuel line and the Schrader valve and/or where the fuel line connects to the fuel pump.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected hose and clamp, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 25, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · 18V335000
2018-05-22
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The transmission support may not have been properly tightened to the vehicle body, potentially resulting in damage to the driveshaft.
Consequence: Damage to the driveshaft could cause a loss of power to the wheels, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission support mounting bolts, replacing and tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 11, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 17V595000
2017-09-22
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Mercedes-Benz Metris vans. These vehicles have electrical power steering control units with improperly welded contact pins.
Consequence: The improperly welded pins may lose contact, deactivating the power steering assist and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. An interim notice is expected to be mailed on November 17, 2017. A second notice will be mailed to owners when parts become available. Owners may contact Daimler's customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 17V272000
2017-04-21
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Freightliner Sprinter and 2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. During vehicle servicing, the affected vehicles received software updates that may conflict with some of the vehicle's computers.
Consequence: The improper software may cause problems with the electronic stability control system, the air bag control unit or the engine management software. These problems can result in an increased risk of a crash or an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner dealers will update the affected control units on the vehicles, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on July 12, 2017. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER · 17V244000
2017-04-10
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat seatbelt pretensioners that may not function properly in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the front seat seatbelt pretensioners do not function properly, the seat occupants may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat belts, free of charge. An interim notification was mailed to owners on June 9, 2017. A second notice was mailed on July 7, 2017, to tell owners that the remedy is now available. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION · 17V148000
2017-03-07
Daimler Vans USA LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. These vans were to be equipped with the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) feature, however, the installed instrument cluster and steering wheel does not support the function, and thus, the BSM system does not work on the vehicle.
Consequence: If a vehicle is in the driver's blind spot, but the BSM system does not warn the driver, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct instrument cluster and steering wheel to enable the BSM function, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on May 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. The recall began on May 26, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY · 16V342000
2016-05-24
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016 Mercedes Benz Metris vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015. The affected vehicles have rear differential gears that may have been improperly welded.
Consequence: The weld may fail and result in a loss of power to the wheels, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear differential gears, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
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