MercedesSprinter 35002018Overview/mercedes/sprinter-3500/2018/base/

2018 Mercedes Sprinter 3500

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Sprinter 3500.

The 2018 Mercedes Sprinter 3500 occupies a relatively quiet spot in a commercial van lineage whose owner-reported complaint history has ranged from a single filing in 2008 to a high of 61 in 2016, with this model year drawing just 9 owner complaints against a heavier tally of 10 recalls across the 2007–2022 tracking window. Fuel system, diesel stands as the most-cited trouble category for the 2018, a focal point that researchers mapping chronic weak points across the Sprinter 3500 platform should weigh carefully. Taken together, the year reads as subdued on direct complaints but conspicuous on recalls — a profile that, while far removed from the 2016 peak, still gives prospective owners and analysts measurable cause to look twice.

Model year202020182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torqueAlloy Wheels: 133 ft-lbs; Steel Wheels: 177 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 850 CCA battery, OE oil filter 0299975448. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 49 · 850 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter0299975448 alt 013997614564
Engine air filter0000903751
Fuel filter6420906352 alt 6420920201
Battery0019828208
Front wiper blades9068201000
Thermostat6422002015
Cabin air filter9068300218 alt 9068300318

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length233.1 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height110.6 in
Wheelbase144.1 in
Curb weight5626 lb
Track (front / rear)67.7 / 68.1 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs.

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18.4 ft-lbs
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) Sensor Bolt(s)33.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs14.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca
Standard BCI Group NumberDiesel: 48
Standard BCI Cranking PerformanceDiesel: 680 cca; Diesel, Auxiliary: 170 cca
Optional BCI Group NumberDiesel: 48, 49, 49
Optional BCI Cranking PerformanceDiesel: 760 cca, 760 cca, 850 cca

Service checks

Engine Compression174

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180148 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
133.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9033 ft. lbs

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2018 Mercedes Sprinter 3500 top in one area — the fuel system, diesel, 1 of 9 reports (11%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 10 recall campaigns target the fuel system, diesel, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the fuel system, diesel pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

10
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
54
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
9
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 9 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Diesel1
Vehicle Speed Control,Unknown Or Other,Service Brakes1
Electrical System,Engine1
Electronic Stability Control1
Wheels1
Steering,Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Exterior Lighting,Structure1
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 10 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V693000Unknown Or OtherReported 02/10/2019

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… Remedy: 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…

19V695000Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control ModuleReported 02/10/2019

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 54 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
LI14.20-N-0738672026-06-15Power TrainComplaint Complaint A: The engine is jolting/bucking between 1700 and 1900 rpm. Complaint…
LI49.10-N-0805282026-06-03Fuel/Propulsion SystemOM642 DPF Filter Cracked or Broken Complaint Vehicle will not start or exhibits noisy…
LI49-20-N-0803762026-03-23Fuel/Propulsion SystemThe check engine light is illuminated, or the AdBlue warning is active, with recorded…
LI14.20-N-0738672026-01-16EngineEGR Valve Diagnosis & Cleaning (and EGR Cooler Cleaning) – OM642, Sprinter 906/907…
LI28.00-N-0633392025-12-01Power TrainClunking noise on load change or gear engagement Complaint Clunking noise can be heard on…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sprinter 3500. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2018 Sprinter 3500 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.