2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (2) · Wheels (1) · Structure:body (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (10)
Electronic Stability Control (Esc):control Module 2021-02-03 · campaign 21V042000 · 48,667 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles upfitted into campers or recreational vehicles. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit may become disabled on these vehicles.
Risk: If ESC becomes disabled, vehicle driving stability may be impacted under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-wheel speed sensor with a more robust sensor, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on March 10, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is NC3DREZAHA.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections 2020-10-28 · campaign 20V663000 · 47,667 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The hydraulic power steering return line hoses may detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, causing hydraulic fluid to leak.
Risk: The sudden loss of power steering assist and hydraulic steering fluid leaking onto the roadway may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the return line connections of the power steering system, correcting it as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this campaign is NV3LETULPE.
Equipment:other:labels 2020-03-18 · campaign 20V155000 · 289 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The spare tire label may indicate the maximum speed at 55 kilometers per hour (kph) rather than as 34 miles per hour (mph).
Risk: With only the metric speed listed on the spare tire label, the driver could misinterpret the kph as mph and operate the vehicle with the spare tire installed at higher speeds than the tire can withstand, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner Sprinter dealers will replace it with the label with the correct maximum speed information indicated in miles per hour, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3BEGRESS.
Equipment:other:labels 2020-03-18 · campaign 20V156000 · 332 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The spare tire label indicating the maximum speed may have not been affixed to the spare tire.
Risk: Without the label, an operator may be unaware of the maximum speed limit of the spare tire and operate the vehicle at a excessive speed, increasing the risk of tire failure and a crash.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner Sprinter dealers will attach the speed limitation label on the spare wheel, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3BEGREPP.
Unknown Or Other 2019-10-02 · campaign 19V693000 · 19 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Sprinter and Metris vehicles. The vehicles left the reassembly plant without the final quality inspection of safety-relevant parts or bolt connections, resulting in possible unknown safety risks.
Risk: Failure to identify loose safety related parts can increase the risk of crash and injury.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and vehicles will be returned to the reassembly plant for comprehensive inspection and, if necessary, corrective action, free of charge. The recall began November 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VSX566ZP25.
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2019-10-02 · campaign 19V695000 · 1,232 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The airbag systems may not have been activated after vehicle production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An inactive airbag system can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to determine if the airbag systems have been activated, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on November 22, 2019. The recall began February 10, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3AIRIGEL.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch 2019-09-18 · campaign 19V665000 · 5,626 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The screw connection on the upper hood catch may have been improperly tightened. As a result, factors such as the vehicle's speed, wind resistance and road conditions may cause the hood to open while the vehicle is being driven.
Risk: A hood that opens while driving can reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the screw connection, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3HAUBOSS.
Visibility:glass, Side/Rear 2019-07-02 · campaign 19V507000 · 1,079 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 1500, 2500, 3500 and 4500 vehicles. The rear side windows may be single-pane safety glass instead of laminated safety glass.
Risk: In the event of a side impact crash or vehicle rollover, the fitted side windows may not adequately protect the rear occupants from being ejected, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner dealers will replace the single-pane safety glass with laminated safety glass., free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on August 16, 2019. The recall began January 21, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS3VERGLAS.
Unknown Or Other 2019-03-20 · campaign 19V222000 · 7 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Metris vehicles. The affected vehicles left the reassembly plant without the final quality inspection of safety-relevant parts or bolt connections, resulting in possible unknown safety risks.
Risk: Failure to identify loose safety related parts can increase the risk of crash and injury.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will complete the final quality inspection, free of charge. The recall began May 17, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VSX566ZP25.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch 2018-10-24 · campaign 18V743000 · 76 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The right side door latches may have been built with incorrect components. As a result, when the doors are electronically unlocked, the right-side doors may not be able to be opened from inside or outside of the vehicle.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the right side doors cannot be opened, it could increase the risk of injury.
Fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the locks if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 31, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA at 1-877-762-8267.
Service bulletins (58)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-19 · LI82_85_N_080972_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
unavailability of mb apps complaint a popup is seen on the hu with the message "data connection temporarily not available". cause mb apps is officially sundowned for all vehicles with ntg5 head unit variant. remedy no support available for ntg5 head unit variants for mb app related topics.
Power Train 2026-08-26 · LI28_00-N-079097_1_en · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint while driving through muddy / sandy/ off road terrain "4matic currently unavailable" message on the dash cause this vehicle is not equipped with a fixed force distribution awd, rather force is only applied to the front axle according to esp calculations. as per gf28.00‑d‑ 9900a: "vehicles
Engine 2026-08-12 · Exhaust System · Warranty Program/Extension
mercedes-benz ag (“mbag”), the manufacturer of freightliner sprinter vehicles, has determined that on certain my17-18 freightliner sprinter vehicles, the diesel particulate filter may crack due to an insufficient weld. mbag also determined that specific environmental influences in the form of corros
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-01 · LI54_30-N-080701 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
assyst plus service reminder appears earlier than expected due to vehicle operating conditions complaint the assyst plus service reminder appears earlier than expected. the customer or dealer may report that the vehicle did not reach the starting maintenance interval shown in vehicle documentation
Power Train 2026-06-15 · LI14.20-N-073867 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint complaint a: the engine is jolting/bucking between 1700 and 1900 rpm. complaint b: one or more mechanical related fault codes for egr valve stored in cdi control unit, with possible check engine light. review list of mechanical fault codes in table below. note: if one or more electrical r
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-06-03 · LI49.10-N-080528 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
om642 dpf filter cracked or broken complaint vehicle will not start or exhibits noisy exhaust. check engine lamp (cel) is on. multiple control unit communication and system faults may be present, including but not limited to: 134800, 134900, 11b300, 11ec00, 15e100, 155700, 162500. additional event
Showing the 6 most recent of 58 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-02-12 · Fuel System, Diesel · 15,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 mercedes benz sprinter 3500. the contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the diesel exhaust fluid (def) warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the diesel exhaust fluid (def) tank had failed and needed to be replaced. the v…”
2023-02-23 · Vehicle Speed Control“we have a 2019 motorhome on a 2018 mercedes sprinter chassis. we are concerned about the wheel speed sensor failing. three out of 4 sensors have already failed and been replaced on ours and mercedes will not replace the 4th sensor until it fails. when this sensor fails it affects the abs brakes and the braking distance is increased which can cause …”
2022-05-25 · Engine · 7,400 mi“the contact owns a 2018 mercedes-benz sprinter 3500. the contact stated that while driving at low speeds, there was an abnormal sulfur odor coming from the engine. there was no warning light illuminated. as the odor persisted, the contact’s eyes started burning and the contact also started having a headache. the contact inspected the vehicle and di…”
2021-11-18 · Electronic Stability Control:automatic (Asc) · 18,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 mercedes-benz sprinter 3500. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the abs, check engine, and cruise control warning lights illuminated. the cause of the failure was not yet determined. the contact indicated that the vehicle was recently serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 21v042000 (electronic stability con…”
2021-11-10 · Wheels“this vehicle was sold to us new with the manufacturer's window sticker stating it was equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) as a standard accessory - safety/cargo protection. the provided owner's manual describes the tpms system and the low tire pressure warning lamp indicator on the dash. it was not until our first flat tire after…”
2021-09-28 · Steering“the contact owns a 2018 mercedes-benz sprinter 3500. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign numbers: 20v663000 (steering) and 21v042000 (electronic stability control) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. the contact contacted mercedes-benz of westminster (10391 we…”
2021-06-14 · Structure:body“on or about april 27, 2021 the driver's side rear taillight assembly randomly fell off between phoenix and tucson, arizona on interstate 10. the assembly is large, containing the taillight, brake light, turn signal light and back-up light. it could have (and may have) hit another vehicle or at least caused it/them to engage in a dangerous turning m…”
2021-01-26 · Vehicle Speed Control · 19,800 mi“when turning a corner,engine raced to 45 mph without my foot on the throttle.almost lost control.had to put vehicle,meredes sprinter 3500,into neutral to stop it.had previously had the dealer repair speed sensors three other times.warning lights come on and i loose cruise control.dangerous condition.mb should re engineer the part and install in af…”
2019-06-11 · Service Brakes · 4,366 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2018 mercedes-benz sprinter 3500. the contact stated that the brakes failed and the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when depressed. the contact had to pump the brake pedal to stop the vehicle harder than usual. the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard quicker than usual and the vehicle would not stop. the vehicle was…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.