Model year

2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500

Van, diesel, 4x2, built in Germany. Owner complaints on file from Jan 31, 2011 to Jul 1, 2025.

Recall campaigns covering this model year537k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints5Below the median 2003 van
Severity index20.02003 vans average 16.6
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 peaked in 2011, with 1 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

00.250.50.751201112013201520172019202120232026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

40% of complaints about the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 name engine and cooling

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Engine and cooling
2
Electrical system
1
Latches and locks
1
Brakes
1
Steering
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

5 recall campaigns cover the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
16V-833Nov 17, 2016Instrument cluster on the affected vehicles fails to illuminate the BRAKE warning lamp in the instrument cluster during the vehicle start up…Electrical system17,501Software update
11V-410Aug 9, 2011Intake manifolds may have corrodedEngine and cooling665Part replacement
09V-418Oct 29, 2009Intake manifolds may have corrodedEngine and cooling14,423Part replacement
08V-339Jul 24, 2008Welding seam between the bracket and steering column of affected spare parts does not meet design specificationsSteering10Part replacement
07V-299Jul 13, 2007On certain trucks equipped with rear air conditioning system, the interior lamp is equipped with an 18w lamp and a scattering lensLighting4,433Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

5 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Jul 1, 2025Failure Jul 1, 2025San Jose, CAElectrical system, Service brakes, Hydraulic

    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.

    NHTSA complaint 11670560
  2. Filed Jul 24, 2019Failure Jul 20, 201998,000 milesGreta, LAEngineFire

    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

    NHTSA complaint 11234528
  3. Filed Apr 17, 2014Failure Jan 22, 201435,000 milesCocoa, FLLatches/locks/linkages

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

    NHTSA complaint 10583329
  4. Filed Mar 10, 2012Failure Mar 8, 201273,000 milesRound Lake Beach, ILTie rod assembly

    OUTER TIE ROD END CAME APART. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10451060
  5. Filed Jan 31, 2011Failure Jan 1, 1901Anchorage, AKExhaust system

    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

    NHTSA complaint 10378883
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

No manufacturer communications on file

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.