Known APK problem
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter: wheels and wheel bearings
On the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter the APK inspector finds wheels and wheel bearings problems 3.3× as often as on cars of the same age: at 3–4 years 0.8%, against about 0.2% nationally.
Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026
What is it?
Play or noise in the wheel bearings, or damaged wheels.
How to check it at the viewing
On the test drive, listen for a humming noise that rises with speed.
Ask the seller: Have any wheel bearings been replaced?
By age
Share of inspected Mercedes-Benz Sprinters with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.
| Age | Type | Sprinter | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 – 4 years | B | 0.8% | 0.2% | 3.3× |
| 7 – 8 years | B | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1.0× |
| 9 – 10 years | B | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0.7× |
A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.
Looking at a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter? Check that car
Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Mercedes-Benz Sprinters of the same age.
All weak spots of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter · Wheels and wheel bearings: which models more often · Checklist for this model
Frequently asked questions
Does the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter often have wheels and wheel bearings problems?
Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 3–4 years the inspector found a wheels and wheel bearings defect on 0.8% of inspected Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, against about 0.2% of all cars of the same age (3.3×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.
How do you check the wheels and wheel bearings on a used Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?
On the test drive, listen for a humming noise that rises with speed.
Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.
Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know