2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: Problems & Reliability
TOO FEW REPORTS2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: TOO FEW REPORTS — 9 owner complaints; top issue: service brakes (3 complaints).
The verdict engine has only 9 complaints for the 2018 — under the 15-complaint floor — so it is not rated yet rather than called clean by silence.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2014–2025 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
9
NHTSA complaints
12
Model years compared
52
Service bulletins
10
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems
Service brakes is the clear leader, named in 33% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2018 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 33% |
| Speed control / throttle | 2 | 22% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 11% |
| Diesel | 1 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 11% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 recalls
10 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018, reported between Oct 24, 2018 and Feb 3, 2021.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 21V042000 | Feb 3, 2021 | Electronic stability control › Control module |
| 20V663000 | Oct 28, 2020 | Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections |
| 20V155000 | Mar 18, 2020 | Equipment › Other › Labels |
| 20V156000 | Mar 18, 2020 | Equipment › Other › Labels |
| 19V693000 | Oct 2, 2019 | Unknown or other |
| 19V695000 | Oct 2, 2019 | Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module |
| 19V665000 | Sep 18, 2019 | Latches, locks & linkages › Hood › Latch |
| 19V507000 | Jul 2, 2019 | Visibility › Glass, side/rear |
| 19V222000 | Mar 20, 2019 | Unknown or other |
| 18V743000 | Oct 24, 2018 | Latches, locks & linkages › Doors › Latch |
2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 52 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2018 — fewer than the 101 of the median Sprinter 3500 year from 2014 to 2025. Coded bulletins most often cover engine & cooling (6), engine (6), electrical system (5). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2018 vs. the year before and after
From the 2017 to the 2018, owner complaints fell by more than half (28 → 9) — an improvement. The 2019 that followed jumped 3.0× (9 → 27), so the 2018 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Sprinter 3500 | CAUTION | 28 | 94 | 9 | — |
| 2018 (this page) | TOO FEW REPORTS | 9 | 52 | 10 | — |
| 2019 Sprinter 3500 | CAUTION | 27 | 178 | 41 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500
Service brakes (3 complaints on the 2018): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Speed control / throttle (2 complaints on the 2018): check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
Fuel system (1 complaint on the 2018): smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
Electrical system (1 complaint on the 2018): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Recalls: confirm all 10 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 reliable?
2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: TOO FEW REPORTS — 9 owner complaints; top issue: service brakes (3 complaints). The verdict engine has only 9 complaints for the 2018 — under the 15-complaint floor — so it is not rated yet rather than called clean by silence.
What are the most common 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 are service brakes (3, 33%), speed control / throttle (2, 22%), fuel system (1, 11%). The manufacturer has 52 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 have?
10 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500, most recently 21V042000 (Feb 3, 2021, electronic stability control); 20V663000 (Oct 28, 2020, steering); 20V155000 (Mar 18, 2020, equipment). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.