Dodge Sprinter Complaints

347 consumer complaints on file.

#10298962January 11, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
PERFORMANCE FAILURE/LOSES POWER AT CRITICAL TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292504November 17, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN SOMEONE REAR ENDING MY VEHICLE. PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A TORN TURBO-INTERCOOLER HOSE. RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. EVIDENTLY THESE HOSES FAIL DUE TO A POOR DESIGN WHERE THE HOSE IS ATTACHED TO IT'S METAL FITTING. I PHONED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER USA AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO A HOSE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289347October 22, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
IN MAY OF 2005 I PURCHASED A NEW DODGE (MERCEDES BENZ) SPRINTER 2500 PASSENGER VAN. WITHIN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS AND 7,500 MILES OF DATE OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF PREMATURE RUSTING AND LEAKAGE OVER THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. I PURSUED REMEDY THRU ALL AUTHORIZED SPRINTER DEALERSHIPS ADHERING TO CHRYSLER PROTOCOLS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. NO REMEDY WAS EVER FORTHCOMING, I REPEATEDLY AND CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE CHRYSLER, THEIR REFUSAL TO PROVIDE WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWED THIS VEHICLE IS DOCUMENTED AND TOO EXTENSIVE TO PROVIDE HERE. I HAVE FILED BBB COMPLAINTS IN DENVER CO. I HAVE SPOKEN TO EXECUTIVE LEVEL CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS. AND NONE HAVE OFFERED A VIABLE SOLUTION. THEY HAVE ESSENTIALLY WASHED THEIR HANDS OF A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE BEEN PURSUING FOR 4 YEARS. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF SO MANY CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE THAT THEY NOW AVOID MY EMAILS AND INQUIRIES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE AS I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS REFERENCES ON THE NET TO SIMILAR ISSUES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ALL SHOW SIGN OF PREMATURE RUST ,LEAKAGE OF ROOF SEAMS AND RUST PENETRATION AROUND THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. I HAVE SOUGHT REPAIRS WELL WITHIN THE RUST THRU WARRANTY PERIOD AND HAVE MET WITH NOTHING BUT LIP SERVICE. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ADDRESS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND HAS DELAYED OFFERING A REMEDY UNTIL NOW THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED. I CAN PROVIDE EXPLICIT WORK ORDERS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REF NO, WITHIN CHRYSLERS SYSTEM. I AM NOW CONSIDERING PURSUING LEGAL OPTIONS BUT LITTLE RESOLUTION IS AVAILABLE. BODY SHOPS REFUSE TO PERFORM REPAIR WORK BECAUSE THEY UNIVERSALLY STATE THAT RUST IS A NONFIXABLE ISSUE. ON ONLY ONE OCCASION DID CHRYSLER AUTHORIZE A SUPERFICIAL ATTEMPT TO PAINT OVER PROBLEM, THEY THEN REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR RUST THRU PERFORATION WARRANTY WHEN THE PROBLEM RESURFACED WITH 35,000 MILES. I AM NOW LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS RUSTING EXTENSIVELY IN AREAS WHERE I ORIGINALLY DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287198October 13, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE IS WINNEBAGO VIEW ON A DODGE SPRINTER 3500 CHASSIS. TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES ACCELERATION. WILL NOT ENGAGE THE TURBO. WHEN CLIMBING A HILL IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 20MPH. THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME WITH ONLY 5,000 MILES AND IT HAPPENED THE SECOND AT 11,000 MILES. BOTH TIMES THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC RESONATOR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN WITH OTHER OWNERS. IN REVIEWING THE ODI COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND THE SAME COMPLAINT REPEATED MANY TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285060September 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. INITIALLY I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CHASSIS BATTERY FROM THE BEGINNING OF PURCHASE (8/25/08). DURING THE FIRST AUTO DEALER'S SERVICE (5/13/09)), THE CHASSIS BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND CLEARED AS SATISFACTORY. THEN CHASSIS BATTERY BOILED DRY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED (5/30/09) LATER THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THE TERMINALS ON THE CHASSIS BATTERY HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. 2. NEXT WAS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC WIRING SYSTEM CONNECTING THE ALTERNATOR TO THE STARTER SYSTEM. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH MECHANISM (DISCONNECT SWITCH) WHICH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR BEING JOSTLED BY THE OPERATOR'S FOOT. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO CALL FOR EXCESSIVE VOLTAGE. CONSEQUENTLY THE EXCESSIVE CHARGING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME DESTROYED THE CHASSIS BATTERY, DESTROYED THE WIRING FROM THE ALTERNATOR TO THE STARTER SOLENOID WITH POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ECM SYSTEMS. 3. I REPLACED THE CHASSIS BATTERY; THE DEALER PERFORMED TESTS AND REPLACED THE DESTROYED WIRING. WITH MY BACKGROUND IN MECHANICS, I DISCOVERED A DESIGN FLAW IN THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH (DISCONNECT SWITCH). THE DEALER PERFORMING THE INSPECTION FOUND THE "DISCONNECT SWITCH" WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND THE AUTO MANUFACTURER DOES NOT RECOMMEND MODIFYING THIS DESIGN. AS A CUSTOMER I ASKED FOR THE DISCONNECT SWITCH TO BE STABILIZED WITH A DOUBLE NUT SYSTEM. THE REFUSAL OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURING TO MODIFY THIS DESIGN LEAVES THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH (DISCONNECT SWITCH) SUBJECT TO MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE OR THE DRIVER'S FOOT WHICH CAUSES THE GROUND CONNECTION TO BE WEAK AND THUS CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO OVERCHARGE. THE CURRENT DISCONNECT DESIGN ALLOWS FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. QUOTING: DODGE SPRINTER 2008 MANUAL: "CAUTION! MAKE SURE THAT THE KEY IS IN POSITION 0 IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND WAIT AT LEAST 20 SECONDS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR CONNECTING THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH. YOU COULD OTHERWISE DAMAGE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284902September 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING
THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ID # 07V299000 - INTERIOR LIGHTING ON THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE AND MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS YET IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. DODGE HAS ORDERED THE PARTS TO BE REPLACED AND IS CHARGING $277.67. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277398July 20, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TURBO RESONATOR CHAMBER FAILURE. RESULTING IN LOSS OF BOOST AND POWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275815July 5, 2009
WHEELS
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT STEEL WHEEL ON 2004 DODGE SPRINTER BROKE ALONG "SPOKES". THIS COULD BE A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR IN A LOADED VAN. I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL AND TOOK IT TO A SHOP WHERE THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BECAUSE THE CRACKS IN THE WHEEL ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO DETECT UNLESS INSPECTED VERY CLOSELY. THE WHEEL THAT FAILED WAS NEVER ABUSED OR MISTREATED IN ANY WAY PRIOR TO FAILURE. I STILL HAVE THE BROKEN WHEEL IF YOU WISH TO INSPECT IT. I AM NOW RUNNING ON THE SPARE. SHOULD I REPLACE ALL 4 WHEELS ON THIS VAN? WILL THE OTHERS ALSO FAIL? ARE ALL 2004 SPRINTER WHEELS THIS DANGEROUS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275038June 26, 2009
POWER TRAIN
TURBO CHARGER RESONATOR,BOOST HOSES, INTAKE AIR TEMP SENSOR CLIPS, LOCKING CLAMP AT INTAKE MANIFOLD FOR BOOST/CHARGE AIR HOSE RETAINER. FAILURE OF EITHER ONE OF THESE COMPONENTS (TOO OFTEN BY MY EXPERIENCE) WILL CAUSE IMMEDIATE POWER LOSS AND DECELERATION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274537June 21, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2008 DODGE SPRINTER W/DIESEL ENGINE HAS HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. PROBLEM BEGAN AFTER ABOUT 10000 MILES OF DRIVING. BECAUSE OF THE STALLING WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTIONS I'VE HAD SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS. ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT I'VE ALMOST HAD PEOPLE REAR END ME. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED WHEN THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED DUE TO SOOT BUILD UP. REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE PROBLEM IS STARTING AGAIN AND THE EGR VALVE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS AT PARTIAL THROTTLE, NEVER FULL THROTTLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274427June 20, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
2007 SPRINTER: VEHICLE STALLS SEVERAL TIMES DAILY. DODGE SAID IT WAS AN EGR VALVE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. THEY SAY IT ISN'T THEIR PROBLEM NOW THAT THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274065June 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A BIG SLOW MOVING TRUCK GOING UPHILL WHEN MY VAN SUDDENLY LOST POWER. ANOTHER 18 WHEELED TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME ALSO TRYING TO PASS THE SAME SLOW MOVING TRUCK WHICH WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE. THE TRUCK BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES TO AVOID REAR-ENDING ME. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE TRUCK WHICH I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS, PASSED ME SO I COULD GO BACK TO THE LEFT LANE CAUSING IRATE MOTORISTS BEHIND ME AND CAUSING A LOT OF SAFETY CONCERNS. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I WAS TRAVELING WITH WIFE AND TWO KIDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274066June 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A BIG SLOW MOVING TRUCK GOING UPHILL WHEN MY VAN SUDDENLY LOST POWER. ANOTHER 18 WHEELED TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME ALSO TRYING TO PASS THE SAME SLOW MOVING TRUCK WHICH WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE. THE TRUCK BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES TO AVOID REAR-ENDING ME. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE TRUCK WHICH I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS, PASSED ME SO I COULD GO BACK TO THE RIGHT LANE CAUSING IRATE MOTORISTS BEHIND ME AND CAUSING A LOT OF SAFETY CONCERNS. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I WAS TRAVELING WITH WIFE AND TWO KIDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273733June 14, 2009
POWER TRAIN
JUNE 14, 2009 NHTSA: FOR THE 4TH TIME OUR WINNEBAGO DODGE SPRINTER/RV HAS LOST POWER DUE TO PARTS FAILURE [TURBO RESONATORS, SENSORS, AND/OR TURBOCHARGER]. NEEDLESS TO SAY THESE FAILURES TOOK PLACE WHILE MANY MILES FROM HOME AND AWAY FROM ANYONE WHO COULD HELP. WHEN CERTAIN PARTS FAIL, THE SPRINTER IS DESIGNED TO ENTER A "LIMP HOME" MODE AT A GREATLY REDUCED SPEED, THUS ENDANGERING US AS WE WERE TRAVELING ON BUSY HIGHWAYS, FEARFUL WE WOULD BE REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK OR OTHER HEAVY VEHICLES. IN ADDITION TO IMPERILING OUR LIVES, WE HAVE ENDURED EXTRA EXPENSE AND GREAT INCONVENIENCE FOR DELAYED AND CANCELED TRIPS RESULTING FROM THESE BREAKDOWNS. JUDGING FROM FORUMS ONLINE RECENTLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS QUITE COMMON AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS WELL AWARE OF IT, BUT, BY INACTION, HAS FAILED TO REMEDY. DEALERS REPLACED THE PARTS WITH THE SAME FLIMSY PLASTIC DEFECTIVE PARTS, WHICH IS NOT SATISFACTORY AS THEY WILL INEVITABLY FAIL AGAIN. A RECALL IS CERTAINLY JUSTIFIED. GEORGE AND BARBARA DEMATTEIS CC: DAIMLER CHRYSLER MOTORS CORP. WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES ED VOYLES CHRYSLER CONGRESSMAN LYNN WESTMORELAND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269072May 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE CLIMBING A HILL ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. MAX VEHICLE SPEED DROPPED TO 25MPH ON 55MPH ROAD - NEARLY REAR-ENDED BY VEHICLE BEHIND. HAD TO DRIVE OVER 150 MILES HOME AT SLOW SPEEDS TO GET TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TURBO RESONATOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269077May 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
DRIVING ON US HWY 2 UP STEVENS PASS, WASHINGTON AT 50 MPH WHEN ENGINE POWER BEGAN CYCLING, BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST, RAPIDLY LOST POWER AND MAX SPEED DROPPED TO 30MPH WITH ACCELERATOR TO FLOOR. QUICKLY BEGAN BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO LET VEHICLES BY. TURNED AROUND AND HEADED BACK HOME. TOOK VAN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE TURBO RESONATOR (2ND TIME IN 5000 MILES). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268926May 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE 2006 SPRINTER VAN SOLD UNDER THE DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER BRAND (MADE BY MERCEDES) HAS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT CAUSES AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE "RESONATOR", A PLASTIC PART THAT IS PART OF THE AIR INTAKE FOR THE TURBO CHARGER. THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS PART IS TO REDUCE THE "WHINE" OF THE TURBOCHARGER. THE PART IS MOLDED PLASTIC, AND IT FAILS BETWEEN WHERE THE TWO PARTS ARE MOLDED. WHEN IT FAILS, THE ENGINE COMPUTER THINKS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE HAS OCCURRED, AND PUTS THE ENGINE IN "LIMP HOME" MODE, WITH AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. IF PASSING, OR GOING UPHILL, THE CAR WILL BEHAVE AS IF THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ZERO POWER RESULTING IN A RAPID DECELERATION. IF PASSING, THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT POWER TO COMPLETE THE PASS. UPHILL MAXIMUM SPEED IS ABOUT 20 TO 35 MPH, EVEN WITH A FULL THROTTLE. THIS DEFECT AFFECTS ALL 2006 SPRINTER VANS WITH THE 2.7 LITRE ENGINE. MANY RV'S ARE BUILT ON THIS PLATFORM, INCLUDING ROADTREK, PLEASURE WAY, LEISURE WAY, GREAT WESTERN, AND OTHERS. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO USE BY MANY DELIVERY SERVICES. THIS IS SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR INJURY AND IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. MINE FAILED AT 9800 MILES. REPORTS OF OTHERS FAILING WITHIN 2000 MILES AND REPEATED FAILURES AFTER REPLACEMENT. MINE FAILED WHEN GOING 65 ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL ROAD. HAD IT OCCURRED WHEN PASSING, I COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY KILLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD THE DEALER CHECK THE RESONATOR BEFORE A LONG TRIP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268494May 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2006 DODGE SPRINTER AND THE ENGINE JUST BLEW AT 115,000 MILES. THIS IS UNHEARD OF IN DIESEL ENGINES. THE VEHICLE WAS PLAGUED FROM THE START AND THE DEALERSHIP CLEARLY ADMITTED IT WAS "CURSED" AND WE SHOULD HAVE GOT MORE THAN 115,000 MILES OUT OF IT, YET NO ONE WANTS TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267734May 5, 2009
STRUCTURE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266606April 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE SPRINTER 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE TURBO RESONATOR CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS WHICH AS A CONSEQUENCE INCREASED THE RISK OF A SERIOUS CRASH AND INJURY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURBO RESONATOR FOUR TIMES. ALL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE FAILURE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. A TECHNICIAN SPECULATED THT POOR QUALITY AND EXCESSIVE HEAT EXPOSURE CAUSED THE COMPONENT TO FAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,336 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.UPDATED 5/6/09 *CN UPDATED 05/08/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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