2003 Dodge SPRINTER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
28,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 15 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 13.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 5 |
| Tires:Valve | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 |
Tires: 5; Tires:Valve: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 3; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm): 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2007: 2; 2010: 5
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10086373 · 2004-08-07 (August 7, 2004)
THIS STUFF IS DANGEROUS. I'VE LOST THREE TIRE VALVES IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES AND THE LAST WAS SUDDEN AND VIOLENT. HONESTLY, I THOUGHT I'D DONE SOMETHING WRONG, BUT I'VE USED ONLY MR. CLEAN WASH SYSTEM AND A VERY DILUTE DEGREASER ON THE WHEELS. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TRY TO REMOVE THE STEMS WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGING THE VALVES AT DISCOUNT BUT WE PERFOMRED A LITTLE EXPERIMENT BEFORE DISSEMBLING THE TIRE. WE RAN THE PSI UP TO 80 OFF THE VEHICLE AND WATCHED WHERE THE AIR ESCAPED THE VALVE. THERE IS A RUBBER COLLER THAT RUNS ABOUT 1/2 UP THE METAL …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,945 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200657 · 2007-08-24 (August 24, 2007)
I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE INTREPID IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 AND THE CAR RUNS FINE UP UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD GET STUCK IN ONE GEAR AND MY RPM WOULD GO UP INTO THE RED LINE UNLESS I PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR. OTHER TIMES IT WOULD GET STUCK AND THEN JERK INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THEN ABOUT FOUR DAYS AGO I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE WHOLE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I COULD NOT MOVE IT AND TRAFFIC WAS SPEEDING PAST ME AND A FEW HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS TO AVOID HITTING ME AND MY TEN MONTH OLD DAUGHTER.…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,356 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086391 · 2004-08-08 (August 8, 2004)
TIRE VALVES SUDDENLY ALLOW AIR TO ESCAPE FROM WHEEL, A COLLISION COULD HAVE EASILY OCCURRED. FOUND THAT THE VALVE WAS FAULTY, AND FAILED DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES GENERATED BY DISC BRAKES.*AK PE04066_CAT
Owner-reported narrative. 13,955 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139252 · 2005-10-11 (October 11, 2005)
- HAD BRAKES ON 2003 DODGE SPRINTER CHECKED BY LOCAL MECHANIC. SAID THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 40% BRAKE PAD LEFT BUT THE ROTORS WHERE EXTREMELY WORN. I AM WONDERING IF ROTOR LIFE GOES PAST THE BRAKE LIFE AND COULD BE A DANGER. DEALER SAID ROTORS ARE CHANGED EVERYTIME WITH PAD CHANGE! *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121827 · 2005-05-22 (May 22, 2005)
WE OPERATE 2 2003 DODGE SPRINTER PASSENGER VANS IN OUR AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUSINESS. ON THURSDAY, MAY 19TH WE HAD A VEHICLE JUST QUIT AFTER START-UP WHEN THE DRIVER STEPPED ON THE GAS. SHE RE-STARTED, DROVE A BLOCK, IT QUITS AGAIN. WE HAD 6 PASSENGERS ONBAORD TO GO TO THE AIRPORT. SHE COULD NOT MAKE THE VEHICLE RUN MORE THAN A FEW BLOCKS AND IF SHE STEPPED ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE IT WOULD QUIT. WE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER AND THE NEXT DAY IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A WIRE BUNDLE THAT RUNS FROM THE ECU TO THE ENGINE, WHICH IS TIED WRAPPED TO 2 OTHER WI…
Owner-reported narrative. 190,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121827 at NHTSA ↗