2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
47/100
#9 most-complained of 16 Sprinter 2500 years
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 has a Complaint Index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Sprinter years. It has 14 complaints and 9 recalls, with Engine as the top problem area at 43% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 14
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine6 (43%)
- Steering3 (21%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (21%)
- Electrical System2 (14%)
- Other2 (14%)
- Seat Belts2 (14%)
- Structure & Body2 (14%)
- Fuel System1 (7%)
- Lane Departure1 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (7%)
What owners report
- Owners report the power steering hose can loosen or disconnect, causing a sudden loss of power steering assist.
- Some vans intermittently shift into limp mode without warning and then resume normal operation after a restart.
- Engine compartment noise has been reported alongside a sudden loss of power that prevented acceleration above 45 MPH.
- Drivers describe erratic transmission shifting along with warning messages for ESP, ABS, and blind spot assist tied to a faulty rear wheel speed sensor.
- Seat belt buckles and retractors have failed or become slow to retract, in one case affecting a fleet of 20 delivery vans.
- Owners note loose bolts near the fuel tank, failed driveshafts, a failed rear differential, and highway-speed vibration.
2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V663000Oct 28, 2020Steering47,667 vehicles
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 20V156000Mar 18, 2020Other332 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 20V155000Mar 18, 2020Other289 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
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.
Remedy: 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.
See all 9 recalls for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 →
2018 compared with other Sprinter 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 reliable?
- Relative to other Sprinter 2500 model years, 2018 is rated "Good," with a Complaint Index of 47 and rank 9th worst of 16 years tracked. It has fewer complaints (14) than several later years like 2019 (67) and 2020 (80).
- What are the most common problems on the 2018 Sprinter 2500?
- NHTSA complaints show Engine issues are most common at 43% of complaints (6 of 14), followed by Steering and Transmission & Powertrain, each at 21%.
- How many recalls does the 2018 Sprinter 2500 have?
- NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2018 Sprinter 2500, covering steering, airbags, structure/body, visibility/wipers, and other components. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- Does the 2018 Sprinter 2500 have a steering recall?
- Yes. Recall 20V663000 covers hydraulic power steering return line hoses that may detach at their connection points, matching complaints of steering fluid loss.
- At what mileage do problems typically show up on the 2018 Sprinter 2500?
- The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 10,250 miles, though Engine complaints have a higher median of 27,367 miles and Transmission & Powertrain complaints a lower median of 3,750 miles.