Sprinter 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
12,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 49 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 6 | 12.2% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 12.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger | 8 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger: 8; Tires: 8; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 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 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2005: 3; 2006: 13; 2007: 14; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10130317 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)
DT: CONTACT OWNED A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THIS MOSTLY OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, AND IT HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES. ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REPAIR VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS FOR DIFFERENT ISSUES. BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT THEY THOUGHT THE AUTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT FIXED THE VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. CONTACT'S WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE TRANSPORTED HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN AND DID NOT WANT TO SEE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175891 · 2006-12-12 (December 12, 2006)
"TURBO RESONATOR" FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE CAUSING SEVERE LOSS OF POWER AND NEAR COLLISION. *JB VEHICLE IS WINNEBAGO VUW*GTB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143857 · 2005-11-28 (November 28, 2005)
BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING ROTOR DISK SPLIT FROM HUB REPLACE ROTOR DISK- WE OWN 5 SPRINTERS- THIS HAS HAPPEN ON 3 WITH LOW MILES - THE CALIPERS EXERT TOO MUCH FORCE ON THE VERY THIN ROTORS- THEY SPLIT FROM HUB WITHOUT ANY WARNING! *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167655 · 2006-09-08 (September 8, 2006)
LEAVING THE TOWN OF LAKESIDE, OR MADE LEFT TURN ONTO THE 101 HWY WITH TRAFFIC NOT VISIBLE DUE TO A CURVE BOTH WAYS, ACCELERATED TO GET UP TO FREEWAY SPEED FOR SAFETY. FOUND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR. DROVE 4-5 MILES BEFORE I COULD TURN OFF THE FREEWAY. I PARKED HEADED DOWNHILL, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND OPENED THE HOOD. I THEN WENT INTO THE STORE TO USE PHONE; HAD NO LUCK FINDING SERVICE. I FELT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO MY DESTINATION IN THIRD GEAR SO GAVE IT A TRY. WHEN I PUT THE HOOD DOWN THE SUPPORT WAS SO WEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205739 · 2007-10-15 (October 15, 2007)
MY DODGE DURANGO (2006) ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS HAS LUNGED FORWARD WITH THE ENGINE REVVING UP AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 9/4/07 I WAS APPROACHING A FOUR LANE DIVIDED ROAD, WITH TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTION I STARTED TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE JUST HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN AND WOULDN'T STOP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149640 · 2006-02-07 (February 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE CRACK IS LOCATED WHERE THE OVERFLOW AND FUEL TANK CONNECT. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL SPILLAGE OCCURS. FUEL IS ALSO LEAKING WHILE ENTERING CURVES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE CRACK HOWEVER, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175968 · 2006-12-12 (December 12, 2006)
RE: 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2006, MY 2006 CHRYSLER PACIFICA STALLED ON RT. 78 E., BETWEEN EXISTS 17 AND 18 OF THAT ROAD (THE FLEMINGTON/ANNANDALE, NJ EXISTS). AT THAT TIME, WHEN I ACCELERATED THE GAS PEDDLE, THE VEHICLE MOVED SLOWER AND SLOWER, UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OR WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY ENGINE OR OTHER TYPE OF FAILURE. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SHIFTED GEARS ON ITS OWN. I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED THE GEAR BACK TO DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING VERY SLOWLY. BEING ON …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206863 · 2007-10-25 (October 25, 2007)
2006 DODGE RAM 3500- VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALERSHIP 3+ TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND LOSES POWER. DROPS TO LOWER GEAR AND CONTINUES TO LOSE SPEED. SOMETIMES AS LOW AS IDLE ONLY. ECM HAS BEEN REPLACED (2) TIMES AND ACCELERATOR MODULE (1) AND SHORT IN WIRING REPAIRED?- LAST REPAIR DONE ON 10/23/07 - DROVE 69 MILES AND SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. DEALER CLAIMS THEY CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP. AND STARTED LEMON REPLACEMENT PROCEEDINGS? THIS TRUCK WAS ALSO REPAIRED PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING IT…
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206863 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 0; 2011: 1