2007 Dodge SPRINTER: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MODEL YEAR 2007 DODGE SPRINTER VANS HAVE TWO SERIOUS PRODUCT DEFECTS: 1.A DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE WHICH APPARENTLY READS HALF FULL WHEN THE VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF GASOLINE. 2.VERY LOW FUEL ECONOMY OF ABOUT 5 MPG RATHER THAN THE EXPECTED 15 MPG. THE COMBINATION OF HIGH GAS CONSUMPTION AND A DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STOPPING WHEN THE GASOLINE TANK IS EMPTY. I AM AWARE OF FOUR VEHICLES OPERATED BY A SMALL COMPANY IN CHICAGO ALL OF WHICH HAVE THIS PROBLEM. BOTH THE DEALER, SHERM…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204371 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE SPRINTER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT WARNING. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER AT 5 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,013 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE HAPPENED A…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213115 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE SPRINTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MARCH 10, 2008 FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN THE FOLLOWING DAY. WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD ARRIVE. THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO RANDOM STALLING. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE VIN, RECALL NUMBER, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE NOT DISCLOSED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10221011 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE SPRINTER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND STALLS. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A CRASH. HE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES THAT DAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX PREVIOUS TIMES, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,650 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,450. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 30,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221148 at NHTSA ↗

ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES MARKETS THE NAVION MOTOR HOME AND THE USER CANNOT EASILY AND ROUTINELY CHECK THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE DUAL REAR TIRES BECAUSE WINNEBAGO COVERED UP THE VALVE STEMS WITH WHEEL COVERS---TO CHECK PRESSURE ONE MUST SECURE A VARIETY OF TOOLS AND REMOVE THE WHEEL COVERS TO GAIN ACCESS. THIS IS DIFFICULT AND THE RESULT IS THAT OWNERS WILL NOT ROUTINELY CHECK THE AIR PRESSURE TO BE ASSURED OF SAFE OPERATION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10222928 at NHTSA ↗

2007 WINNEBAGO VIEW ,RIGHT SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS A LARGE BLIND SPOT. DUE TO WHAT I BELIEVE IS A DEFECTIVE MIRROR AS IT IS 2 INCHES SHORTER THAN THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR. THE MIRROR WAS MADE FOR A STANDARD SIZE VAN, NOT A LARGE MOTORHOME TYPE BODY. THE SELLING DEALER,WINNEBAGO,OR DODGE DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10226436 at NHTSA ↗

I GOT SEPARATIONS IN A SIZE OF A 1/2 - 1 INCH ON THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE, LOOK LIKE THEY ARE CUT OUT WITH A KNIFE ALL AROUND THE TIRE. ALL THE OTHER TIRES HAVE THE SAME THING, BUT NOT AS BIG. SOME PARTS ALREADY FLOW AWAY. THE RUBBER FEELS LIKE IT LOST THE SOFTENER AND GOES VERY HARD. JUST BY RANDOM, I HAVE SEEN IT. I ALREADY CHANGED THE TIRES TO NEW ONES, BUT I SAVED 2 TIRES OF THE DAMAGED TIRES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242421 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE STEMS ON ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VALVE STEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433480 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-06-07 (June 7, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE SIDE WINDOW AIR BAG MODULE DIFFUSER MATERIAL MAY CONTAIN HAIRLINE CRACKS.

Consequence: IN THE CASE OF A CRASH WITH A TRIGGER SIGNAL FOR THE WINDOW BAG MODULE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SUCH A DIFFUSER MAY CRACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AIR BAG ACTIVATION INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT, LEFT, OR BOTH SIDE WINDOW AIR BAG MODULES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DCC AT 1-843-695-5041.

Reported: 2008-10-08 (October 8, 2008)

MATTHEWS IS RECALLING 8 MY 1998 BLUEBIRD, MY 2004 FORD E450, MY 2005-2006 THOMAS BUILT BUSES, MY 2006 INTERNATIONAL BUS, MY 2007 CHEVROLET 5500, FREIGHTLINER AND DODGE SPRINTER TRUCKS, TRANSIT BUSES, AND SPECIALTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATION IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: MATTHEWS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MATTHEWS SPECIALTY AT 336-297-9600.

Reported: 2008-10-08 (October 8, 2008)

MATTHEWS IS RECALLING 8 MY 1998 BLUEBIRD, MY 2004 FORD E450, MY 2005-2006 THOMAS BUILT BUS, MY 2006 INTERNATIONAL BUS, MY 2007 CHEVROLET 5500, FREIGHTLINER AND DODGE SPRINTER TRUCKS, TRANSIT BUSES, AND SPECIALTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.

Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: MATTHEWS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MATTEWS SPECIALTY AT 336-297-9600.

Reported: 2008-12-15 (December 15, 2008)

SUNSET VANS IS RECALLING 267 MY 2005-2007 ECONOLINE, G SERIES AND SPRINTER TRUCKS BUILT ON DODGE, FORD AND CHEVROLET CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: SUNSET VANS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR SUNSET VANS AT 1-888-280-8267.

Reported: 2008-12-16 (December 16, 2008)

SUNSET VANS IS RECALLING 169 MY 2005-2007 ECONOLINE, G SERIES AND SPRINTER TRUCKS BUILT ON DODGE, FORD AND CHEVROLET CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.

Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: SUNSET VANS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR SUNSET VANS AT 1-888-280-8267.