NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Sprinter 3500 Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Sprinter 3500 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 14 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Sprinter dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Sprinter 3500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2005 Sprinter 3500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Sprinter 3500, describing incidents dated May 15, 2005 to November 7, 2008.

Most-cited components

Engine 7 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10248806 · Filed November 14, 2008
TURBO RESONATOR FAILURE ON AN INCLINE ON FREEWAY WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VECHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RESONATOR. *TR
ODI #10206496 · Filed October 22, 2007
WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE LOW SPEED MODE. THEY WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN JUST STOP. *JB
ODI #10191357 · Filed May 21, 2007
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

Read all 14 complaints

FMVSS 403/ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK/RICON

NHTSA #08V387000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice

Reported August 6, 2008 · DAIMLER BUSES NORTH CAROLINA

Potentially affected: 465 vehicles

Owners notified November 21, 2008 · Vehicles built April 1, 2005 – July 31, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM/FMVSS 404/RICON

NHTSA #08V134000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice

Reported March 24, 2008 · DAIMLER BUSES NORTH CAROLINA

Potentially affected: 334 vehicles

Owners notified January 30, 2009 · Vehicles built July 1, 2005 – March 31, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2005 Sprinter 3500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

14 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Sprinter 3500.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10248806

Incident: November 7, 2008 · Filed: November 14, 2008

TURBO RESONATOR FAILURE ON AN INCLINE ON FREEWAY WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VECHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RESONATOR. *TR

Visibility

ODI #10206496

Incident: October 22, 2007 · Filed: October 22, 2007

WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING IN THE LOW SPEED MODE. THEY WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN JUST STOP. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10191357

Incident: April 28, 2007 · Filed: May 21, 2007

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

Power Train

ODI #10190192

Incident: April 19, 2007 · Filed: May 8, 2007

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10189063

Incident: April 21, 2007 · Filed: April 26, 2007

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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10183054

Incident: December 22, 2006 · Filed: February 20, 2007

THE TRUCK LOST POWER SUDDENLY AND THE SPEED REDUCED FROM 62 TO 35 TOTALLY OUT OF MY CONTROL. THIS OCCURRED ON I95 IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED TURBO RESONATOR. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10175891

Incident: August 25, 2006 · Filed: 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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10175839

Incident: December 10, 2006 · Filed: 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 NOW READ ABOUT AND RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET. *JB

Power Train; Structure

ODI #10167655

Incident: August 5, 2005 · Filed: 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 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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10165610

Incident: August 3, 2006 · Filed: 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

Other Sprinter 3500 model years

Check your 2005 Sprinter 3500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Sprinter 3500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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