2005 Sprinter 3500 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 2005 Sprinter 3500, 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
- Engine741.2%
- Brakes211.8%
- Fuel system211.8%
- Powertrain (other)15.9%
- Transmission15.9%
- Airbags15.9%
- Visibility15.9%
- Body & structure15.9%
- Driver assistance15.9%
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
TURBO RESONATOR FAILURE ON AN INCLINE ON FREEWAY WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VECHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RESONATOR. *TR
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING 50-60 MPH. NO ACCELERATION DESPITE DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FLOOR. VEHICLE TOWED 15 MILES TO AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE TURBO RESONATOR WAS REPLACED. *JB
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
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
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 IT STALL INTERMITTENTLY. *AK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF LIGHTS ON THE DASH, ABS LIGHT AND THE TRACK LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON. CLOCKSPRING SENSOR AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE REPLACED. STALL OUTS CAUSED BY ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION LOCK VOLTAGE TOO HIGH. ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPLACED. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN 3 SPRINTERS. ALL 3 HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INJECTORS LEAKING. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *AK
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 WEAK IT BENT AND I HAD TO HAMMER IT OUT OF THE WAY TO CLOSE THE HOOD. I FOUND SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE RESET ITSELF AS IT SHIFTED NORMALLY ONCE I RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE MORE IN THE YEAR 2005. THE FIX EACH TIME WAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART. NO RED LIGHT . JUNE 23, 06 BEFORE I TRAVELED OUT OF STATE WENT TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP STARTING FIASCO WITH THREE DEALERSHIPS (SUPPOSEDLY AUTHORIZED AND CERTIFIED TO WORK ON THIS VEHICLE) COULDN'T GET IT FIXED UNTIL MERCEDES BENZ MECHANIC WAS BROUGHT IN AND IT WAS DONE WITHIN THE MORNING OF THAT DAY. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES; THE GEAR SHIFT WAS REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNNECESSARILY AT LESS THAN 8K MILES . THE REPAIR DONE IS UNCLEAR TO ME; BUT, SUPPOSEDLY THE CULPRIT IS THE RESONATOR. IT WAS REMARKED IN EMAIL TO [email protected] BY CHRYSLERDAIMLER REP, IT WAS THE FAULT OF WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INSTALLATION OF A SIRIUS RADIO ON THE PRODUCTION LINE; THEY ARE DISCUSSING THIS BETWEEN THEM NOW. WHILE THE TWO ARE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE BLAME ANYWHERE ELSE BUT ON THEMSELVES, PEOPLE ARE IN JEOPARDY OF THEIR LIVES THE LONGER THIS ISSUE IS PUT OFF. PLEASE ASSIGN SOMEONE TO CHECK OUT THE YAHOO GROUPS FORUM: VIEW-NAVION AND VIEW-NAVIONTECH THERE ARE 25 INCIDENCES OF LIMP HOME MODE (LOSING POWER) IN THE DATABASE. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 IT STALL INTERMITTENTLY. *AK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF LIGHTS ON THE DASH, ABS LIGHT AND THE TRACK LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON. CLOCKSPRING SENSOR AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE REPLACED. STALL OUTS CAUSED BY ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION LOCK VOLTAGE TOO HIGH. ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPLACED. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE LOW SPEED MODE. THEY WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN JUST STOP. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 WEAK IT BENT AND I HAD TO HAMMER IT OUT OF THE WAY TO CLOSE THE HOOD. I FOUND SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE RESET ITSELF AS IT SHIFTED NORMALLY ONCE I RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE MORE IN THE YEAR 2005. THE FIX EACH TIME WAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART. NO RED LIGHT . JUNE 23, 06 BEFORE I TRAVELED OUT OF STATE WENT TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP STARTING FIASCO WITH THREE DEALERSHIPS (SUPPOSEDLY AUTHORIZED AND CERTIFIED TO WORK ON THIS VEHICLE) COULDN'T GET IT FIXED UNTIL MERCEDES BENZ MECHANIC WAS BROUGHT IN AND IT WAS DONE WITHIN THE MORNING OF THAT DAY. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES; THE GEAR SHIFT WAS REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNNECESSARILY AT LESS THAN 8K MILES . THE REPAIR DONE IS UNCLEAR TO ME; BUT, SUPPOSEDLY THE CULPRIT IS THE RESONATOR. IT WAS REMARKED IN EMAIL TO [email protected] BY CHRYSLERDAIMLER REP, IT WAS THE FAULT OF WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INSTALLATION OF A SIRIUS RADIO ON THE PRODUCTION LINE; THEY ARE DISCUSSING THIS BETWEEN THEM NOW. WHILE THE TWO ARE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE BLAME ANYWHERE ELSE BUT ON THEMSELVES, PEOPLE ARE IN JEOPARDY OF THEIR LIVES THE LONGER THIS ISSUE IS PUT OFF. PLEASE ASSIGN SOMEONE TO CHECK OUT THE YAHOO GROUPS FORUM: VIEW-NAVION AND VIEW-NAVIONTECH THERE ARE 25 INCIDENCES OF LIMP HOME MODE (LOSING POWER) IN THE DATABASE. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 IT STALL INTERMITTENTLY. *AK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF LIGHTS ON THE DASH, ABS LIGHT AND THE TRACK LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON. CLOCKSPRING SENSOR AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE REPLACED. STALL OUTS CAUSED BY ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION LOCK VOLTAGE TOO HIGH. ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPLACED. *TT
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 .