2006 Sprinter 3500: complaints, problems and recalls

SECOND TURBO FAILURE LEADING TO LONG DRIVE IN LIMP HOME MODE. GPS MOVING AVERAGE SPEED OF 47 MPH. LOW SPEED OF 28 MPH. DISTANCE TO GET HOME THIS TIME 600+ MILES TOOK DEALER 15 DAYS TO REPAIR. FIRST REPAIR TOOK 10 DAYS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161490 at NHTSA ↗

PART FAILED CAUSING INABILITY TO OPERATE AT SAFE SPEEDS ON HIGHWAY. PART IS CALLED "TURBO RESONATOR" AND HAS A REPUTATION AS A WEAK PART. SEVERAL OWNERS OF SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE HAVE HAD FAILURE. I SAVED THE DEFECTIVE PART. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 7,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163549 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED AN ITASCA NAVION WHICH IS BUILT ON A 2006 DODGE SPRINTER 3500 CHASSIS. THE MERCEDES ENGINE, I FOUND OUT AFTER OURS FAILED, HAS A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TURBO RESONATOR OPENING UP, RESULTING IN THE ENGINE GOING INTO A "LIMP HOME MODE" WHERE THE VEHICLE OPERATES AT 200 RPM OR LESS. I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUNG ON THE 101 HIGHWAY SOUTH OF SANTA BARBARA WHICH IS A HILLY 2 LANE HIGHWAY. DUE TO THE RPM RESTRICTION ON THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRAMATICALLY LOSE POWER AND SPEED ON THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE. IT WAS ON ONE SUCH INCL…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165601 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2006 DODGE SPRINTER MOTOR HOME AND WITH ONLY 2,000 MILES THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO GET OFF AT THE CLOSEST EXIT AND CALLED THE DAIMLER/CHRYSLER HOTLINE OBTAINED THE NAME OF THE NEAREST REPAIR DEALER. I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY NEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HAD THE PART AVAILABLE. THE PROBLEM WAS A CRACKED TURBO RESONATOR WHICH IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND REPLACED WITH A NEW UPDATED VERSION. THE REPAIRM…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,436 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173493 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I WAS DRIVING A 2006 ITASCA NAVION CLASS C RV WITH A DODGE-SPRINTER CHASSIS (BUILT ON JULY 2005) AND CRUISING AT 65 MPH, WHEN GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE SPEED DROPPED DRASTICALLY TO 50 MPH, UNRESPONSIVE TO FURTHER ACCELERATOR PRESSURE. A REDUCED POWER MODE SUBSEQUENTLY ENSUED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLES FOLLOWING BEHIND AND THE REDUCTION IN POWER MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO EXECUTE MANEUVERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP W…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176892 at NHTSA ↗

TURBO RESONATOR FAILURE WHICH IMMEDIATELY REDUCES POWER AND SPEED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLIMB AN EXIT RAMP TO LEAVE THE HIGHWAY. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177383 at NHTSA ↗

(1) WITHOUT WARNING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. HAD TO DRIVE A TOTAL OF OVER 200 MILES ON REDUCED POWER TO GET HOME. (2) 2006 DODGE SPRINTER CHASSIS MOTORHOME WITH MERCEDES BENZ 2.7L 5-CYL TURBO DIESEL ENGINE, TURBO RESONATOR SPLIT AT SEAM, CAUSING TURBO SHUTDOWN, AND MAXIMUM SPEED OF 30-40 MPH AND NO POWER ON ANY HILLS. FAILURE ON A HILL OR FREEWAY COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT! (3) DEALER HAS REPLACED RESONATOR TWICE AT NO CHARGE. WE'RE SEEKING A METAL REPLACEMENT PART THAT WON'T VOID THE WARRANTY.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183877 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-07-03 (July 3, 2006)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS BUILT ON DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS, THE BRAKE FLUID USED WAS CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. DUE TO THE HIGH WATER CONTENT THE BOILING POINT OF THE SUBJECT BRAKE FLUID IS REDUCED.

Consequence: THIS MAY AFFECT THE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM DURING HARD BRAKING SITUATIONS AND MAY LEAD TO AN INCREASING BRAKE DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL FLUSH AND REPLACE THE BRAKE FLUID FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 17, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-704-655-1000.

Reported: 2007-03-13 (March 13, 2007)

CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM IN THE LIFT MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE RICON WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR TO TIP BACKWARDS ONTO THE PLATFORM WHEN THE PLATFORM WAS LOWERED. THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE WHEELCHAIR'S OCCUPANT. ALSO, ANYONE STANDING ON THE PLATFORM COULD LOSE HIS OR HER BALANCE AND FALL, RESULTING IN INJURY.

Remedy: DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS WORKING WITH RICON TO REPAIR THESE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 06E101). OWNERS CAN CONTACT RICON AT 800-322-2884 OR DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-882-8054.

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.

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.