The Lemon IndexAll carsMercedes-BenzSprinter2018
2017
20192nd generation
Better than average · most complaints: speed control
15 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
When problems show up
Only 11 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V042000 (stability control), 20V663000 (steering) and 20V155000 (equipment) done? It has 10 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- NHTSA has an open investigation into desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Has this car had that problem?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Mercedes-Benz sent dealers 59 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Clunking/Rattle Noise from Rear Axle Area”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Mercedes-Benz's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 15 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 4K to 18K miles (7K to 29K km) on the car (11 of all 15 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 19.8M views · 2007–2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Most-watched topics
- Oil changes & service741K views
Oil reset Mercedes sprinter 2012Paul Zhukotansky · 427K views · 3 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank694K views
Mercedes Sprinter Fuel Filter Change 2014Mercedes Sprinter DIY · 193K views · 8 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical535K views
2011 Mercedes Sprinter battery replacement ( under the floorboard )JMMJ Productions · 164K views · 8 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors260K views
2013 Mercedes Sprinter EGR valve cleaning procedure, do every 15,000-20,000 mi, stops coughingWyattsSaab · 156K views · 3 videos
Show 4 more
- No-start: theft light, key & ignition178K views
MERCEDES SPRINTER 2012 | NO START | ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK | BYPASS EMULATOR | DIAGNOSTICSVEPROFESSIONALS · 99K views · 2 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door160K views
How to FIX Your Blower Motor (Sprinter Van 2007-2018)Drift Overland · 92K views · 4 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring100K views
2013 Mercedes Sprinter Code P2047 Adblue Metering Valve Has An Electrical Fault Or An Open CircuitKIT'S Auto and Truck Repair · 67K views · 3 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors87K views
2007 - 2017 Dodge Mercedes Sprinter door panel & Speaker removalvexas · 48K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
2017 Sprinter intermittent starting problemsRobert Mailloux · 26K views
The last reliable Sprinter built by Mercedes? | A 2009 Mercedes Sprinter Camper Review and POV DriveOttoEx · 15K views
Sprinter van 2011 problems : coolant color, belt tensioner and oil leakSprinter HQ 4 Shops · 15K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2018 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Mercedes-Benz told dealers about
Mercedes-Benz sent dealers 59 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Clunking/Rattle Noise from Rear Axle Area
- Complaint Transmission control unit Y3/8n4 (fully integrated transmission control unit (VGS))…
- Engine Oil Level Cannot Be Checked via Instrument Cluster Service Menu Complaint Sometimes the…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 10
- Stability control · recall issued 2021
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit may become disabled on these vehicles.
- Steering · recall issued 2020
The hydraulic power steering return line hoses may detach at their connection points under certain operating conditions, causing hydraulic fluid to leak.
- Equipment · recall issued 2020
The spare tire label may indicate the maximum speed at 55 kilometers per hour (kph) rather than as 34 miles per hour (mph).
Show all 10 recalls
- Equipment · recall issued 2020
The spare tire label indicating the maximum speed may have not been affixed to the spare tire.
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
The airbag systems may not have been activated after vehicle production.
- Unknown or other · recall issued 2019
The vehicles left the reassembly plant without the final quality inspection of safety-relevant parts or bolt connections, resulting in possible unknown safety risks.
- Latches/locks/linkages · recall issued 2019
The screw connection on the upper hood catch may have been improperly tightened.
- Visibility · recall issued 2019
The rear side windows may be single-pane safety glass instead of laminated safety glass.
- Unknown or other · recall issued 2019
The affected vehicles left the reassembly plant without the final quality inspection of safety-relevant parts or bolt connections, resulting in possible unknown safety risks.
- Latches/locks/linkages · recall issued 2018
The right side door latches may have been built with incorrect components.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Mercedes-Benz Sprinter recall, all years · All Mercedes-Benz recalls
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedRear wheel speed sensor failure2020–2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Every Mercedes-Benz Sprinter year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 2 older years (2007–2008, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 11 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2018 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/mercedes-benz-sprinter/?y=2018" title="Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="468" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/mercedes-benz-sprinter/2018/">Lemon Index</a> (2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about half as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 50; 100 is average, lower is better). The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2015.
What are the most common 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (27%), transmission & drivetrain (27%) and brakes (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have?
10 safety recalls (latest: stability control). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 27% of its owner complaints.
What Mercedes-Benz Sprinter year is better than the 2018?
Nearby, the 2015 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a quarter as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works