Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Sprinter 2500.
The 2018 Mercedes Sprinter 2500, part of the model line that has been tracked from 2007 through 2025, recorded a modest total of 13 owner complaints, with steering identified as the predominant issue and nine separate recalls noted for the year. Compared with the broader history, its complaint count sits well below the peak recorded in 2014, when 38 issues were logged, and above the very low baseline of a single complaint in the inaugural 2007 year. This positioning suggests that the 2018 iteration occupies a middle‑ground in the Sprinter’s reliability timeline—more trouble‑free than the model’s most problematic year yet still showing enough reported concerns to warrant attentive maintenance of the steering system.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 850 CCA battery. 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.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 233.1 in |
| Overall width | 79.5 in |
| Overall height | 107.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 144.1 in |
| Curb weight | 5187 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 67.7 / 68.1 in |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
Torque the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs.
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | 12 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 18.4 ft-lbs |
| Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) Sensor Bolt(s) | 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pan to Block Bolts | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 20.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 14.0 ft-lbs |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 49 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 850 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | Diesel: 48 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | Diesel: 680 cca; Diesel, Auxiliary: 170 cca |
| Optional BCI Group Number | Diesel: 48, 49, 49 |
| Optional BCI Cranking Performance | Diesel: 760 cca, 760 cca, 850 cca |
| Engine Compression | 174 |
| 1 | 148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 180 | 148 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 33.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 33 ft. lbs |
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 2500 top in one area — the steering, 2 of 13 reports (15%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 9 recall campaigns target the steering, 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 steering 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.
All 13 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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…
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…
Showing 5 of 53 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI14.20-N-073867 | 2026-06-15 | Power Train | Complaint Complaint A: The engine is jolting/bucking between 1700 and 1900 rpm. Complaint… |
| LI49.10-N-080528 | 2026-06-03 | Fuel/Propulsion System | OM642 DPF Filter Cracked or Broken Complaint Vehicle will not start or exhibits noisy… |
| LI49-20-N-080376 | 2026-03-23 | Fuel/Propulsion System | The check engine light is illuminated, or the AdBlue warning is active, with recorded… |
| LI14.20-N-073867 | 2026-01-16 | Engine | EGR Valve Diagnosis & Cleaning (and EGR Cooler Cleaning) – OM642, Sprinter 906/907… |
| LI54.30-N-079757 | 2025-09-26 | Unknown Or Other | Engine Oil Level Cannot Be Checked via Instrument Cluster Service Menu Complaint… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.