Recall 18V743 affects 76 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and Sprinter 3500 vehicles for right-side door latch defects. Repair is free at any franchised Freightliner dealer.
Freightliner is recalling 76 2018 Sprinter 3500 and Sprinter 2500 vans because the right side door latches were built with incorrect parts. When the doors are electronically unlocked, the right side doors can stay shut from inside or outside, and Freightliner dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The right side door latch on the 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 and Sprinter 2500 is the lock mechanism that holds the passenger, sliding cargo, or rear door closed until it is released. When the vehicle is unlocked, the latch should release so the door handle opens the door from inside or outside the van.
On affected Sprinter vans, the latch was built with the wrong operating lever inside the lock. That lever is supposed to line up with another internal lever after the door is locked and unlocked. Because the shape is wrong, the latch can stay in the locked position even after the electronic unlock command.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first sign is the door staying shut after unlocking, even when the handle is pulled from inside or outside; moving the handle again can restore the latch for a short time.
Who's affected?
Both Sprinter model lines use the same door latch component in this recall.
| 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | Latch |
|---|---|
| 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | Latch |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | Latch |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | Latch |
| Units affected | 76 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 13 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific van.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, right side doors that cannot be opened can increase the risk of injury. There is no warning sign before the lock problem, so confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule the inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Freightliner dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 or Sprinter 2500 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the free right-side door latch inspection and lock replacement that fixes doors that fail to open after electronic unlocking.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 18V743 when you call.
- Avoid relying on the right-side doors as the only exit path until the repair is complete.
- Call Freightliner customer service at 1-877-762-8267 with questions about scheduling or dealer access.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Freightliner technician inspects the right-side door locks and replaces the locks when the recall condition is found. The repair is free under campaign 18V743, with parts and labor covered. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the new vehicle warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because all involved vehicles remain covered under that warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork tied to the door-lock issue.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| October 24, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 3, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| December 3, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 11, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| December 11, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 31, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V743?
Recall 18V743 covers 76 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 and Sprinter 2500 vans with right-side door latches built with incorrect components. When electronically unlocked, the right-side doors can stay closed from inside and outside. Freightliner dealers will inspect the locks and replace them if needed for free.
What should I do if my 2018 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 or Sprinter 2500 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 18V743. If it is, contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the right-side door lock inspection. Reference recall number 18V743 when you call. The dealer will replace the locks if needed for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. For recall 18V743, Freightliner dealers will inspect the right-side door locks and replace the locks if needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the right-side doors stay shut after electronic unlocking. In a crash, doors that do not open from inside or outside can increase injury risk by making exit or rescue harder. The repair path is an inspection and lock replacement if needed.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair became available after owner notices began on January 31, 2019. If your VIN is included and the repair has not been completed, a franchised Freightliner dealer can inspect the right-side door locks and replace them if needed for free.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V743000 |
|---|---|
| Freightliner customer service | 1-877-762-8267 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V743 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V743000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →