Freightliner SPRINTER 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
73 distinct recall campaigns
10,692 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 to 2022 model years. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 21 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 19.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
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 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Air Bags: 5; Service Brakes: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2007: 1; 2011: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 11491472 · 2022-10-30 (October 30, 2022)
ABS SPEED SENSOR, TRACTION REAR SPEED SENSOR FAULT CODE C0037 AND C003A. SPEED REDUCES TO 20MPH HIGH ENGINE RPM REV OVER 3000 RPM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11491472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11501505 · 2023-01-12 (January 12, 2023)
THE VEHICLE DASH BOARD HAD 4 {ECM, ABS, TRACTION AND SKID} LIGHTS, REDUCED SPEED TO 20MPH ON THE HIGHWAY RPM INCREASED OVER 3000 LOST ABILITY FOR ABS, STEARING CONTROL AND SPEED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS P003A AND P0037 POINTING TO BOTH REAR WHEEL SPEED SONSORS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11501505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11398562 · 2021-03-01 (March 1, 2021)
WHILE DRIVING USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE SPEED WAS INCREASING 15 MPH PAST THE SETTING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY USING THE BRAKE. THEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AFTER THAT IT WOULDN'T SHIFT RIGHT, IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO A HIGH GEAR AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO GET MOVING FROM A STOP. I HAD TO DRIVE TO A DEALER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AND IT WAS QUITE HARROWING. OF COURSE THEY COULDN'T WORK ON IT FOR 3 DAYS SO WE RENTED A CAR TO GO BACK HOME 400 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS A REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 5 MONTH…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11398562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363739 · 2020-10-10 (October 10, 2020)
AT 5,600 MILES, TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON I-68 IN WESTERN MARYLAND NEAR EXIT 62. SPRINTER DANGEROUSLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED RAPIDLY SHIFTED GEARS. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND DRIFTED TO AN OFF RAMP. DASH LIGHTS INDICATED THREE PROBLEMS ABS, SWERVE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL. SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND RESTARTED - SAME RESULT. DISCONNECTED BATTERY THEN RECONNECTED - SAME RESULT. CONNECTED A SCANNER WHICH INDICATED RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. CONTACTED SELLING DEALER SHOP MANAGER AND WAS ADVISED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10787327 · 2015-10-30 (October 30, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT DAY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SAME FUSE HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10787327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10374594 · 2011-01-05 (January 5, 2011)
2008 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ORIGINAL POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PRACTICALLY NEW WITH 9,741 MILES. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW WITH LESS THAN 13,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE NEW PUMP HAS ALSO FAILED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,741 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374594 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 36 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2006: 2; 2007: 6; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 5; 2014: 5; 2015: 9; 2016: 11; 2017: 7; 2018: 8; 2019: 36; 2020: 17; 2021: 11; 2022: 1