2005 Sprinter 3500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
5,444 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 14 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 3 | 21.4% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.1% |
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 | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Universal Joint: 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 | 9 |
| 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 | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 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: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 3 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 | 2 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2005: 2; 2006: 6; 2007: 5; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
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 10144811 · 2005-12-08 (December 8, 2005)
2005 DODGE SPRINTER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AFTER FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT- DEALER SAID FAULTY VALUE STEMS. DAMAGED REAR RIM AND HAD TO BUY TWO NEW TIRES AND RIM. ALMOST SAME OCCURANCE HAPPEN TO TWO OTHER SPRINTERS IN OUR FLEET. ALSO, WE HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS EVERY 12,000 MILES. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ROTORS ON THREE SPRINTERS DUE TO ROTORS SEPERATED FROM HUB. ONE 04 SPRINTER LOSES POWER FOR UNKNOWN REASON, AFTER STOP AND RESTART, POWER RETURNS-- DEALER IS CLUELESS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144811 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 10164286 · 2006-08-03 (August 3, 2006)
TURBO RESONATOR IN 2005 DODGE SPRINTER DEVELOPED A LEAK, PROMPTING "LIMP HOME MODE." "LIMP HOME MODE" REDUCED SPEED SIGNIFICANTLY--35 MPH ON HIGHWAY--WHICH IS UNSAFE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,239 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165610 · 2006-08-16 (August 16, 2006)
VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON FREEWAY, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER TRACED PROBLEM TO TURBO RESONATOR FAILURE, A WELL-KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH DODGE SPRINTER VANS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,444 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165610 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 10175839 · 2006-12-11 (December 11, 2006)
PURCHASED A NEW '06 GULFSTREAM RV YESTERDAY. (BUILT ON A '05 DODGE/FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 CHASSIS) HAD 480 (DELIVERY) MILES ON IT. DRIVING HOME FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AT ~790 MILES ON ODOMETER, ENGINE SUDDENLY CUT MOMENTARILY, RPMS AND POWER FELL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, AND I WAS ON HWY 101 FOR ~30 MILES DOING 45 AS THE REST OF TRAFFIC MOVED AT TYPICAL 80 MPH (NO OTHER CHOICES BUT THE HIGHWAY). VERY DANGEROUS. THERE IS NO APPARENT PROBLEM. I WILL HAVE IT SERVICED TOMORROW. I SUSPECT THE WELL KNOWN TURBO RESONATOR CRACK WHICH I HAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 790 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175839 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V134000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Reported: 2008-03-24 (March 24, 2008)
DAIMLER BUSES OF NORTH CAROLINA (DBNC) IS RECALLING 334 MY 2005-2006 SPRINTER 2500 AND MY 2003, 2005-2007 SPRINTER 3500 BUSES 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: DBNC 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 DBNC AT 1-905-403-7807.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V387000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Reported: 2008-08-06 (August 6, 2008)
DAIMLER BUSES IS RECALLING 465 MY 2004-2008 SPRINTER 2500 AND 3500 BUSES 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 SYSTEMS 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: DAIMLER BUSES IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-800-322-2884 OR DAIMLER BUSES AT 1-905-403-7807.
NHTSA campaign record ↗