Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the wheels and tires, steering, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/4
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2020's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Tires wear out far too fast, and the alignment will not stay put. Reports describe the factory tires wearing to an unsafe state by about 12,000 miles, even with correct pressures and no tire-pressure warning. Another owner needs new tires roughly every 7k miles. Some owners believe the original tires are the wrong size and load rating for the van. Badly worn tires raise the risk of a blowout and a crash. With only 2 complaints, the pattern is narrow but consistent.
Power steering assist cuts out while driving, leaving the van much harder to steer. One loss happened at highway speed. Another followed hitting a bump. A dashboard message reading "power steering malfunction" appears, sometimes with a chime and a red service warning, but there is no warning beforehand. Sudden loss of assist creates a real loss-of-control risk, especially at speed or in traffic. The 2 complaints on file give no mileage pattern.
Moisture builds up around an electronic control unit, and condensation grows mold on it until the unit has to be replaced. The reported repair costs about $2,700 in parts and labor. It reportedly was not covered under warranty and involves fitting a new unit with a plastic bag over it for protection. In one report the failure came after about a year of ownership. A separate complaint reports a broken rearview camera with no further detail.
Excerpts from complaints Metris Passenger Van owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
To whom it may concern, while driving on the highway I lost function of power steering and a message came on stating "power steering malfunction see operator manual".
Filed with NHTSA, July 2022
After one year of ownership, purchased used from dealer with 40 miles) I have to replace control unit due to the location of the unit in the car developing mold from condensation. Is a common problem, is widely discussed on the internet, and MBZ does not cover under warranty. The repair is to replace the unit ($2,700 in labor/parts) and place a plastic bag over the new unit.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks third for owner complaints among 4 Metris Passenger Van years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the fifth model year of the Metris Passenger Van's third generation (2016–2023).
Mercedes-Benz updated the Metris Passenger Van for 2024, so a 2020 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2024 (not on a 2020)
Recall repairs are free at any Mercedes-Benz dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2020 and 2022-2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris right-hand-drive vehicles. Water may accumulate on the air bag control unit, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a cover on the air bag control unit, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed March 20, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in April 2026. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2KORSRS. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 13, 2026.
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The electrical connections for the infotainment system may not be properly secured, which can cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the infotainment system connection, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 11, 2025. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2GARPIN.
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Metris, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.
Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update, or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2SIMKOM/VS3SIMKOM.
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The connection of the upper and lower fuel hoses to the engine may be insecure, which can result in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel hose connections, and replace the clamps and fuel hose, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2KRAUCH.
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.
Risk: A detached brake fluid reservoir can leak brake fluid, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Fix: 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.
Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris right-hand drive vehicles. The screwed fittings between the rigid steel brake lines routed through the underbody of the vehicle and the brake hoses in the area of the front and rear axles may not have been correctly installed.
Risk: The connection between the brake line and the brake hose may leak, causing a sudden loss of brake fluids, impacting braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the affected fittings at the connection points of the brake lines to the brake hoses, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2BREMPOS.
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
