Model year

2005 Dodge Sprinter 3500

Other, diesel, 4x2, built in Germany. Owner complaints on file from Jun 1, 2008 to Aug 21, 2020.

Recall campaigns covering this model year218k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints63.0 times the median 2005 other
Severity index16.72005 others average 8.5
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2005 Dodge Sprinter 3500 peaked in 2009, with 3 filed

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

012320083201020122014201620182020202220242026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

67% of complaints about the 2005 Dodge Sprinter 3500 name engine and cooling

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

Engine and cooling
4
Powertrain
2
Electrical system
1
Fuel system
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

2 recall campaigns cover the 2005 Dodge Sprinter 3500

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 2005 Dodge Sprinter 3500
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
08V-339Jul 24, 2008Welding seam between the bracket and steering column of affected spare parts does not meet design specificationsSteering10Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2005 Dodge Sprinter 3500

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.

6 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Aug 21, 2020Failure Aug 12, 2020265,000 milesIrvine, CAElectrical systemFire

    THE CAR WAS IN SLOW DRIVING CONDITION IN HOT WEATHER DRIVING.. THE HEATER FAN MOTOR AND/OR HEATER FAN WIRING AT THE MOTOR OVERHEATED AND BURNED ALL PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR AND WIRING NEAR IT. THE FIRE THEN SPREAD TO SURROUNDING PLASTIC HEATER BLOWER FAN HOUSING AND EXTINGUISHED WHEN HEATER HOSE BURNED AND BURST/SPRAYED SENDING ANTIFREEZE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE SOURCE WAS EASILY IDENTIFIED AS THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED IN THE WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE FAN MOTOR CONNECTOR AREA AND NO OTHER PART OF THE UNDERHOOD FIRE. THE CORRECT AMPERAGE FUSE IS IN PLACE FOR THE AFFECTED CIRCUITS POWERING THE FAN MOTOR. THE FACTORY IS INVESTIGATING THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. I HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE FIRE DAMAGE.

    NHTSA complaint 11350672
  2. Filed May 20, 2016Failure Jun 30, 200837,722 milesSiler City, NCDiesel, Power train

    OUR TURBO RESONATOR FAILED FOUR TIMES. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY NO POWER AND OUR VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND OUR MAXIMUM SPEED WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO US THE 4TH TIME I RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND IT LOOKS LIKE LATE 2004, 2005, 2006 AND 2007 MODELS ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.7 LITER 5 CYLINDER IN LINE TURBO DIESEL. THE RESONATOR IS MADE OF A PLASTIC BONDED TOGETHER ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT WELL SUITED FOR HIGH HEAT, VIBRATION AND HIGH PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT SO IT SPLITS AND PUTS THE VEHICLE AND OCCUPANTS IN GREAT DANGER . ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE I READ THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY SPRINT OWNERS AND THAT THERE IS AN EASY FIX. I STRONGLY FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE DODGE CORPORATE OFFICE AND TO TIMOTHY KUNISKI BY LETTER ASKING WHY THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS RESONATOR. DATES THAT RESONATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED:6/30/2008, 6/20/2011, 7/15/14 10/8/2015. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST TIME WE REPLACED THE RESONATOR OUR MILEAGE WAS 37,722, THE SECOND TIME WE REPLACED THE RESONATOR OUR MILEAGE WAS 60,433, THE THIRD TIME MILEAGE WAS 93,424 AND THE FOURTH TIME WAS 97,267 STATUS UPDATED 11/15/16.*JB UPDATED 12/29/16.*JB UPDATED 03/08/17.*JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN UPDATE. UPDATED 03/21/2017 *JS

    NHTSA complaint 10870006
  3. Filed Jun 14, 2009Failure Jun 11, 200915,186 milesWinston, GAPower 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

    NHTSA complaint 10273733
  4. Filed May 18, 2009Failure May 15, 20097,800 milesSeattle, WAExhaust 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

    NHTSA complaint 10269077
  5. Filed May 18, 2009Failure Sep 13, 20064,300 milesSeattle, WAEngine

    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

    NHTSA complaint 10269072
  6. Filed Jun 1, 2008Failure May 12, 200827,400 milesFolsom, CAEngine, Fuel system, Diesel

    FAILED TURBO RESONATOR GOING TO YOSEMITE IN ITASKA MH WITH DODGE 5 CYL DIESEL ENGINE. THIS IS SECOND TURBO RESONATOR TO FAIL AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION ON 2 LANE RDS WITH FEW TURNOUTS AND STEEP BANKS. DODGE SHOULD RECALL RESONATORS AND REPLACE WITH AVAILABLE AFTERMARKET ITEM. NUMEROUS FAILURES IN RV'S. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10229458
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

3 manufacturer communications cover this model year

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

  • T21 Jun 3, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Emissions Recall T21 Reprogram Engine Control Unit
  • T21 Mar 12, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Emissions Recall T21 Reprogram Engine Control Unit
  • T21 Rev3 May 21, 2020 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Emissions Recall T21 Reprogram Engine Control Unit
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.