Dodge SPRINTER 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
91 owner complaints analyzed
14 distinct recall campaigns
40,994 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 to 2012 model years. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 91 complaints (48.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 11.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 11.0% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 8.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 44 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
Air Bags: 44; Engine: 11; Electrical System: 10; Power Train: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Service Brakes: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 49 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 8; 2009: 6; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2015: 7; 2016: 24; 2017: 13; 2018: 8; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10327422 · 2010-04-23 (April 23, 2010)
2006 DODGE SPRINTER TRUCK. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL ISSUES WITH VEHICLE LEADING TO BREAK DOWNS *TGW THE DEALER NOTED THE VEHICLE LACKED POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD ESPECIALLY LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE. ONE YEAR LATER, THE RESONATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AGAIN ON MARCH 27, 2009. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE LOCK WASHER ON THE LUG NUT FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY PUT ON THE TIRE. THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TAIL LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED. THE EGR VALVE WAS STICKING, T…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,760 miles reported. Look up ODI 10327422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10966323 · 2017-03-16 (March 16, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V833000 (SERVICE BRAKES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10966323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11350672 · 2020-08-21 (August 21, 2020)
THE CAR WAS IN SLOW DRIVING CONDITION IN HOT WEATHER DRIVING.. THE HEATER FAN MOTOR AND/OR HEATER FAN WIRING AT THE MOTOR OVERHEATED AND BURNED ALL PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR AND WIRING NEAR IT. THE FIRE THEN SPREAD TO SURROUNDING PLASTIC HEATER BLOWER FAN HOUSING AND EXTINGUISHED WHEN HEATER HOSE BURNED AND BURST/SPRAYED SENDING ANTIFREEZE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE SOURCE WAS EASILY IDENTIFIED AS THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED IN THE WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE FAN MOTOR CONNECTOR AREA AND NO OTHER PART OF THE UNDERHOOD FIRE. THE CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 265,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11350672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217043 · 2008-02-05 (February 5, 2008)
MY 2006 SPRINTER DIESEL HAS HAD A RESONATOR FAILURE WHICH CAUSED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER - IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT THE WRONG TIME IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES AND WAS REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALL THAT I AM AWARE OF AND AFTER A WEB SEARCH IT APPEARS THERE SHOULD BE - THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AN IMPROVEMENT AND AS A RESULT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE FOR MANY OWNERS. IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE GIVEN THE SUDDEN NATURE OF THE L…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10217043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231711 · 2008-06-20 (June 20, 2008)
REPEATED FAILURE OF TURBO RESONATOR ON DODGE SPRINTER 3500 / WINNABAGO VIEW RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF 90% OF POWER. PART CRACKS OPEN CAUSING LOSS OF TURBO PRESSURE. ENGINE SENSOR THINKS TURBO HAS FAILED SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE INTO LIMP MODE RESULTING IN 90% LOSS OF POWER. SAME PART HAS FAILED TWICE IN 2,500 MILES. BOTH TIMES HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATES HIGHWAYS IN TRAFFIC AND NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT ON I 75 SOUTH OF ATLANTA LAST YEAR AND ON I 20 WEST OF ATLANTA LAST WEEKEND. IN BOTH CASES HIGH SPEED VEHICLES PASSING ON BOTH SIDES CR…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11114523 · 2018-07-30 (July 30, 2018)
ENTIRE MERCEDES DIESEL SPRINTER ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY AND WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. POSSIBLE CAUSE IS CRACKED PISTON OR STUCK INJECTOR. THIS HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING, SHORTLY AFTER SERPENTINE BELT AND TRANSMISSION LINE WERE REPLACED, VEHICLE WAS JUST SERVICED, INCLUDING NEW BRAKES, MUFFLER, INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE. ONLY 82,000 MILES! COST WILL BE OVER $11,000! THIS IS A WINNEBAGO VIEW AND ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW OLDER (2007) IT HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN THAT MUCH EACH YEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11338967 · 2020-07-13 (July 13, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 IN ARIZONA, THE DODGE LOST POWER AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ESP LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN LIGHTS ILLUMINATED THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE THAT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED SPEED. ONCE THAT HAPPENED A SEMI WAS BEHIND ME AND HE HAD TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO PULL RV OVER AND LET IT REST. AFTER 2 HOURS OF BEING ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY, I WAS ABLE TO GET RV STARTED AND BACK ON THE ROAD. I FIXED THE REAR SPEED SENSORS AND TRIED DRIVING RV AGAIN. SAME ISSUE. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 17 WHEN THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,848 miles reported. Look up ODI 11338967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11396858 · 2021-02-18 (February 18, 2021)
STEERING WANDERING SIDE TO SIDE WHILE IN MOTION
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11396858 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2012 | 0 |
2001: 1; 2002: 3; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 7; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2012: 0