2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 Problems

I own a 2005 Dodge Sprinter with open emissions recall T21. I have contacted three authorized Dodge/Chrysler dealerships to have recall T21 completed. All three dealerships refused to perform the recall because they stated they do not have the required equipment to complete the ECU reprogramming. As a result, I am unable to have the open recall completed despite multiple attempts. The manufacturer is failing to provide a reasonable means to complete the recall. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue and require Stellantis to ensure that authorized dealerships have the necessary equipment to perform recall T21.

See attached document for complaint.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD FAILED UPON ACTIVATION. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOON AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED YET AGAIN. THE CONTACT THEN DECIDED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS HIMSELF AND DISCOVERED BURNT WIRING IN BOTH HEADLIGHT MANIFOLDS WHICH HE LINKED TO THE REPEATED FAILURE. AFTER THE CONTACT REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAD FAILED YET AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER 3500 SC. THE CONTACT NOTICED ISSUES WITH THE TURN SIGNALS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN THAT CONTROLLED THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTING FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY, BUT THE TURN SIGNALS BECAME INOPERATIVE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE SECOND TIME, IN NOVEMBER OF 2006, THE DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE MOST RECENT VISIT, IN APRIL OF 2007, AN OUTSIDE SOURCE BOUGHT AND REPLACED THE SWITCH. THE CONTACT PROVIDED THE DEALER WITH THE RECEIPT AND THEY PROVIDED REIMBURSEMENT. IN NOVEMBER OF 2007, THE SWITCH FAILED AGAIN. THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER AND THE CONTACT WAITED MORE THAN 11 MONTHS FOR IT TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WOULD COST $204. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

2005 DODGE SPRINTER (84857 MILES) HAD EMERGENCY BRAKE WORKED ON AT DEALER. APPROXIMATELY 187 MILES AND ROUGHLY 45-50 HOURS LATER THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE FELL OFF. FOUR OF FIVE LUG BOLTS WERE MISSING. THE FIFTH LUG NUT WAS STILL ATTACHED, BUT BADLY BENT. HEAD OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT ALUMINUM RIMS AND STEEL WHEELS WERE INCOMPATIBLE AND THIS WAS THE REASON FOR THE TIRE FALLING OFF. THE SPRINTER HAD BEEN MAINTAINED SOLELY BY THE DEALER FOR NINETY PERCENT OF IT'S HISTORY COVERING FOUR YEARS AND APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. DEALER DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMING ME OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE WHEEL. I PAID TO HAVE STEEL RIMS REPLACE THE ALUMINUM ONES. THE ALUMINUM RIMS, AND REMAINING LUG BOLTS ARE IN MY POSSESSION. *TR

I HAVE OWNED THIS 2005 DODGE SPRINTER FOR OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD 4 FLAT TIRES DUE TO VALVE STEM FAILURES (IT IS SITTING IN MY PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW WITH A FLAT FRONT DRIVERS TIRE) THE VALVE STEM BULGES AND SPITS OUT AIR AS SOON AS I FILL IT. I CAN FEEL THE LEAK AND SEE THE STEM BULGE WHEN TRY TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRE . I HAVE SEEN OTHER SPRINTERS WITH THIS PROBLEM MERCEDES RECALLED 2004 SPRINTER FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MORE VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THEY WERE TO FAIL ON A LOADED VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHERE IT WAS OBSERVED BY THE TECHNICIANS THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (HUNTINGTON BEACH CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM LOCATED ON 16701 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO REACH OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER TO FILE A CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 31763746 AND FORMS FOR THE CONTACT TO FILL OUT AND SUBMIT PICTURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 61 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HARMONIC BALANCED BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE BOLT AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HE HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

THE TURBO RESONATOR CAME APART AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THE TURBO, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON THE FREEWAY. VERY UNSAFE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT DODGE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. A GOOGLE SEARCH ONLINE WILL ATLEAST TO THIS FACT AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WHEN YOU LOOSE ALL POWER AT ONCE IT MAKES FOR A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION FOR EVERYONE AROUND AND BEHIND YOU AS THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCELERATE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ONLY ABLE TO COAST. PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED. *TR *JS

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ODOR COMING FROM THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE INJECTOR WASHERS WERE LEAKING EXHAUST GASSES. THE CONTACT INSTALLED NEW WASHERS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUMES IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE BREATHING PROBLEMS, WATERING OF THE EYES AND HEADACHES. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDALWAS DEPRESSED IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. THE DEALER STATED THISWAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 120000 MILES. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD FAILED UPON ACTIVATION. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOON AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED YET AGAIN. THE CONTACT THEN DECIDED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS HIMSELF AND DISCOVERED BURNT WIRING IN BOTH HEADLIGHT MANIFOLDS WHICH HE LINKED TO THE REPEATED FAILURE. AFTER THE CONTACT REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAD FAILED YET AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE SMOKE INSIDE THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR LIGHTING WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED. IT HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V299000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,000.UPDATE 10/01/08 *CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE SWITCH MECHANISM USED IN THE REAR LIGHTS WAS POORLY DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. UPDATED 10/03/08. *JB

I HAVE OWNED THIS 2005 DODGE SPRINTER FOR OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD 4 FLAT TIRES DUE TO VALVE STEM FAILURES (IT IS SITTING IN MY PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW WITH A FLAT FRONT DRIVERS TIRE) THE VALVE STEM BULGES AND SPITS OUT AIR AS SOON AS I FILL IT. I CAN FEEL THE LEAK AND SEE THE STEM BULGE WHEN TRY TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRE . I HAVE SEEN OTHER SPRINTERS WITH THIS PROBLEM MERCEDES RECALLED 2004 SPRINTER FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MORE VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THEY WERE TO FAIL ON A LOADED VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ODOR COMING FROM THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE INJECTOR WASHERS WERE LEAKING EXHAUST GASSES. THE CONTACT INSTALLED NEW WASHERS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUMES IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE BREATHING PROBLEMS, WATERING OF THE EYES AND HEADACHES. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDALWAS DEPRESSED IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. THE DEALER STATED THISWAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 120000 MILES. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER, MERCEDES-BENZ OF MIAMI (1200 NW 167TH STREET, MIAMI, FL 33169, (305)707-0147) WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED A CALLBACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,976. INVALID VIN.

THE PASSENGER PULLED THE SEAT BELT ACROSS HER AND CLICKED INTO THE END MOUNT PIECE. THE END MOUNT PIECE CAME BACK WITH THE SEAT BELT EXPOSING 2 CABLE PIECES THAT HAD BROKEN OFF THE MOUNTING PLATE. THIS SHOWED THAT THE 2 CABLES MUST HAVE BROKEN FROM FATIGUE OVER SOME TIME AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER?S SIDE MOUNT WAS INSPECTED AND SHOWED NO FATIGUE OR FRAYING OF THE CABLES. I BROUGHT THE BROKEN END MOUNT PIECE TO THE ST CLAIR SHORES MI MERCEDES DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THE MOUNT PIECE DID NOT MATCH THE FACTORY INFORMATION. THE BROKEN END MOUNT COULD NOT BE LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GERMANY. THIS VAN WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN GERMANY AS A DODGE SPRINTER AND MODIFIED BY ROADTREK CANADA INTO AN RV. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY MODIFICATION TO THE FRONT 2 SEATS OR SEAT BELTS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT HAVE MERCEDES PART NUMBER MARKINGS ON THEM.