The defect
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Metris, and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) seat belt assemblies. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 21, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA's customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
Components: SEAT BELTS | SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR | SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freightliner Sprinter 1500 | 2021 | 0 | 12 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | 2021 | 0 | 12 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | 2021 | 1 | 11 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 4500 | 2021 | 0 | 11 |
| Mercedes-Benz Metris | 2021 | 1 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 | 2021 | 9 | 17 |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | 2021 | 45 | 18 |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | 2021 | 8 | 16 |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 | 2021 | 0 | 16 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2021
42 of the 988 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2021 concerned the seat belts; Daimler Vans USA, LLC filed 126 campaigns in all.
| 21V979000 16 Dec 2021 | Ford Motor Company |
| 21V958000 9 Dec 2021 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 21V900000 18 Nov 2021 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 21V889000 17 Nov 2021 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 21V893000 17 Nov 2021 | Jayco, Inc. |
| 21V680000 5 Nov 2021 | Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. |
| 21V811000 15 Oct 2021 | Ford Motor Company |
| 21V796000 13 Oct 2021 | Hyundai Motor America |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2021