2006 Freightliner SPRINTER 2500: complaints, problems and recalls

I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 JUST WEST OF PALM SPRINGS CLIMBING A HILL WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE TURBO RESONATOR HAD FAILED, CAUSING LACK OF ENGINE POWER. MY VAN SUDDENLY SLOWED FROM 70 MPH TO 35 MPH. TRAFFIC FROM BEHIND ME HAD TO REACT QUICKLY TO PASS ME. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO A DODGE DEALER, AND PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT TURBO RESONATOR. THE OLD ONE HAD A SPLIT IN IT, WHICH I FOUND WAS COMMON BASED ON A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET. THE COST OF THE PART WAS ABOUT $100 AND I WAS ABLE TO REPLACE IT -- AGAIN BASED ON INSTRUCTIONS FOUND…

Owner-reported narrative. 41,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10270013 at NHTSA ↗

THE TURBO RESONATOR ON THESE VEHICLES IS A KNOWN FAILURE ISSUE, THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED TWO FAILURES WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE 2ND FAILED AT 70,000, THE MANUFACTURER IS QUITE WILLING TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY BUT DESPITE NUMEROUS PRODUCT CHANGES THE (Q5 IS THE LATEST VARIANT) THE COMPONENT CONTINUES TO FAIL UNPREDICTABLY POTENTIAL RESULTING IN A SERIOUS TRAFFIC INCIDENT. THE TURBO RESONATOR IS UNDER FULL TURBO BOOST PRESSURE (APPROXIMATELY 35"MAP) THUS IS MOST LIKELY TO FAIL WHEN UNDER MAX LOAD I.E. CLIMBING HILLS, ETC. AND IN HOT CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457354 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 EQUIPPED WITH ANTARES COMFORT A5 TIRES, SIZE: LT225/75R16 118/16S 10PR, DOT NUMBERS: KBU5114 (PASSENGER SIDE) AND KBU51214 (DRIVER SIDE). WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED BULGES IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE CHANGED, BUT THE BULGES RETURNED IN BOTH TIRES. THE TIRES WERE NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE MANUFACTURERS WERE NOT NOTIFI…

Owner-reported narrative. 73,443 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121968 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-07-13 (July 13, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH REAR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, THE INTERIOR LAMP IS EQUIPPED WITH AN 18W LAMP AND A SCATTERING LENS. IN EXTREMELY HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS, THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY, AND THE HEAT FROM THE LAMP DUE TO EXTREME LONG TERM OPERATION, CAN DISTORT THE SCATTERING LENS.

Consequence: THE SWITCHING CONTACTS OF THE LAMP MAY CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE REAR LAMP INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR INTERIOR LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE WITH A MODIFIED VERSION WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE IMPACTS OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL AT 1-843-695-5041.

Reported: 2008-07-24 (July 24, 2008)

SPRINTER IS RECALLING 10 MY 2001-2006 DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER 2500 AND 3500 VEHICLES. THE WELDING SEAM BETWEEN THE BRACKET AND STEERING COLUMN OF AFFECTED SPARE PARTS DOES NOT MEET DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RESULT OF AN OUT OF SPECIFICATION WELDING SEAM IS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MAY DETACH FROM ITS INTERIOR VEHICLE MOUNTING BRACKET.

Consequence: THE OPERATOR MAY LOSE STEERING ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMNS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPRINTER AT 843-695-5057.

Reported: 2016-11-17 (November 17, 2016)

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans manufactured June 30, 2003, to August 31, 2006. The instrument cluster on the affected vehicles fails to illuminate the BRAKE warning lamp in the instrument cluster during the vehicle start up bulb-function check. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."

Consequence: Without the BRAKE lamp illuminating during the vehicle start up bulb-function check, the driver has no confirmation that the lamp is working and therefore may not know whether or not the lamp will illuminate if the brake fluid level is low. If the operator is unaware that the vehicle has low brake fluid, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and DVUSA and Dodge dealers will correct the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. An interim notification was sent to owners on January 6, 2017. A second notice will be mailed to owners once the remedy becomes available. The recall began on July 27, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-770-705-2070.