2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine233.3%
- Brakes116.7%
- Electrical116.7%
- Interior & seats116.7%
- Steering116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 63 MPH WITH A RV TRAILER HITCHED, THE ENGINE HESITATED AND WAS 10 DEGREES WARMER THAN NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COOLANT INCREASED 30 DEGREES HOTTER THAN NORMAL. THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. FLUIDS WERE DRIPPING FROM THE VEHICLE AND ON THREE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO INDEPENDENTLY POWER ON. THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES STARTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ON THE HOOD. IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES ALONG WITH THE RV TRAILER. ALL OCCUPANTS EXITED THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED AS WELL AS POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEM A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PROPANE TANK DID NOT BLOW A SAFETY BELL VALVE UNTIL THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. *TT *TR *TR IMAGES ATTACHED *JB
2003 DODGE 2500 SPRINTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CHRYSLER SAFETY RECALL J32 ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO DROP TO DROP THE VEHICLE OFF PN DECEMBER 15, 2010. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE RECALL WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT AND IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS, EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE IT STATED IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 8 HOURS. THE CONSUMER STATED A COUPLE OF DAYS WENT BY, AND THEN THE EXCUSES STARTED ACCOMPANIED BY PROMISES. THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE THE WRITING OF THIS LATER, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS AND THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING IT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE, WHEN HE DROPPED IT OFF. *JB UPDATED 02/18/11
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V833000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V833000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE SPRINTER 2500 VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HATCHES AND THE LOCKING MECHANISMS WOULD NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 6/10/14*CN THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 07/24/14
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
OUTER TIE ROD END CAME APART. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .