MercedesSprinter 35002020Overview/mercedes/sprinter-3500/2020/base/

2020 Mercedes Sprinter 3500

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Sprinter 3500.

The 2020 Mercedes Sprinter 3500 stands as a model year defined by considerable regulatory and owner scrutiny, carrying 22 separate recalls alongside 12 owner complaints primarily centered on the Electronic Stability Control and broader electrical systems. When situated within the model's full 2007-2022 complaint history, this specific year occupies a moderate middle ground—far removed from the problematic peak of 61 complaints in 2016, yet nowhere near the historical low of a single complaint in 2008. For researchers, this means the 2020 Sprinter 3500 represents a transitional midpoint in the model's reliability trajectory, where overall complaint volume is contained but critical safety and electronic vulnerabilities remain a pronounced concern.

Model year202020182017

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 0199971745. 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 filter0199971745 alt 0199971845
Engine air filter0000903751
Fuel filter6510903600 alt 6420906352
Battery0019828208
Front wiper blades9108240100 alt 9108240000
Thermostat6422002015

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length233.5 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height109.1 in
Wheelbase144.1 in
Curb weight5556 lb
Track (front / rear)66.5 / 60.6 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Engine torques

Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs14.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca
Standard BCI Cranking PerformanceBattery Backup: 1.2 amp. hrs. cca

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Short Arm11 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
133.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°33 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 2020 Mercedes Sprinter 3500 top in one area — the electronic stability control (esc),electrical system, 1 of 12 reports (8%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 22 recall campaigns target the electronic stability control (esc),electrical system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electronic stability control (esc),electrical system 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.

22
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
134
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
12
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 12 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Electrical System1
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting,Visibility/Wiper1
Vehicle Speed Control,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Service Brakes, Air1
Air Bags,Structure,Service Brakes1
Trailer Hitches1
Electrical System,Communication1
Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 22 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V802000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:CaliperReported 21/12/2020

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with electric parking brakes. The rear brake calipers may leak brake fluid into the housing… Remedy: DVUSA will replace the rear brake calipers, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed on January 4, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at…

20V631000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 14/10/2020

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The outer area of the brake hoses on the front and rear axles may have been damaged during production. Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the condition of the brake hoses on the front and rear axles and replace them as needed, free of charge. The recall began November…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 134 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…
LI49-20-N-0803762026-03-23Fuel/Propulsion SystemThe check engine light is illuminated, or the AdBlue warning is active, with recorded…
LI4920N0759952026-02-24EngineVehicles with SCR Generation 4: SCR/AdBlue® warning message cannot be reset with fault…
LI14.20-N-0738672026-01-16EngineEGR Valve Diagnosis & Cleaning (and EGR Cooler Cleaning) – OM642, Sprinter 906/907…
LI49.20-N-0759952026-01-15EngineComplaint Vehicles with SCR Generation 4: SCR/AdBlue® warning message cannot be reset…

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 2020 Sprinter 3500 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 22 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.