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2005 Freightliner Sprinter 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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20026
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20043
20053
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20075
2008
Compare all Sprinter 2500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Power Train
1Structure
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

3 reports
139,200 miles · Nov 6, 2013
StructureVisibility/wiper

2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER VAN 2500 WITH NO SIDE DOOR OR REAR DOOR GLASS. THE DRIVER MUST USE THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS THAT ARE NOT HEATED WILL FOG UP WHEN DRIVING IN DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE BLIND. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE ALL FULL SIZE COFFIN VANS WITH NO…

Read full complaint

2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER VAN 2500 WITH NO SIDE DOOR OR REAR DOOR GLASS. THE DRIVER MUST USE THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS THAT ARE NOT HEATED WILL FOG UP WHEN DRIVING IN DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE BLIND. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE ALL FULL SIZE COFFIN VANS WITH NO SIDE OR REAR GLASS SHOULD HAVE HEATED OUTSIDE MIRRORS FROM THE FACTORY, THIS APPLIES TO ANY MAKE FULL SIDE COFFIN VANS, CARGO VANS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551063

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TURN SIGNAL FAILURE AT CONTROL ARM ON STEERING COLUMN. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10427687

41,000 miles · Aug 13, 2008
Power Train

WHILE CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN INCLINE (6%) IN N.C.,WE HAD SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER IN OUR 2005 FREIGHTLINER (DODGE) SPRINTER. THIS WAS OUR FIRST FAILURE. THE TURBO RESONATOR SEPARATED CAUSING ALMOST COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS HAD THERE BEEN TRAFFIC. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THIS ITEM WITH A MORE REL…

Read full complaint

WHILE CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN INCLINE (6%) IN N.C.,WE HAD SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER IN OUR 2005 FREIGHTLINER (DODGE) SPRINTER. THIS WAS OUR FIRST FAILURE. THE TURBO RESONATOR SEPARATED CAUSING ALMOST COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS HAD THERE BEEN TRAFFIC. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THIS ITEM WITH A MORE RELIABLE ONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237978

Official recalls

3

16V833000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel; Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Nov 17, 2016

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans manufactured June 30, 2003, to August 31, 2006. The instrument cluster on the affected vehicles fails to illuminate the BRAKE warning lamp in the instrument cluster during the vehicle start up bulb-function check. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without the BRAKE lamp illuminating during the vehicle start up bulb-function check, the driver has no confirmation that the lamp is working and therefore may not know whether or not the lamp will illuminate if the brake fluid level is low. If the operator is unaware that the vehicle has low brake fluid, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and DVUSA and Dodge dealers will correct the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. An interim notification was sent to owners on January 6, 2017. A second notice will be mailed to owners once the remedy becomes available. The recall began on July 27, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-770-705-2070.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans manufactured June 30, 2003, to August 31, 2006. The instrument cluster on the affected vehicles fails to illuminate the BRAKE warning lamp in the instrument cluster during the vehicle start up bulb-function check. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."

Consequence: Without the BRAKE lamp illuminating during the vehicle start up bulb-function check, the driver has no confirmation that the lamp is working and therefore may not know whether or not the lamp will illuminate if the brake fluid level is low. If the operator is unaware that the vehicle has low brake fluid, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and DVUSA and Dodge dealers will correct the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. An interim notification was sent to owners on January 6, 2017. A second notice will be mailed to owners once the remedy becomes available. The recall began on July 27, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-770-705-2070.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans manufactured June 30, 2003, to August 31, 2006. The instrument cluster on the affected vehicles fails to illuminate the BRAKE warning lamp in the instrument cluster during the vehicle start up bulb-function check. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."

Consequence: Without the BRAKE lamp illuminating during the vehicle start up bulb-function check, the driver has no confirmation that the lamp is working and therefore may not know whether or not the lamp will illuminate if the brake fluid level is low. If the operator is unaware that the vehicle has low brake fluid, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: DVUSA will notify owners, and DVUSA and Dodge dealers will correct the instrument cluster software, as necessary, free of charge. An interim notification was sent to owners on January 6, 2017. A second notice will be mailed to owners once the remedy becomes available. The recall began on July 27, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-770-705-2070.

08V339000 · Steering:column

Jul 24, 2008

SPRINTER IS RECALLING 10 MY 2001-2006 DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER 2500 AND 3500 VEHICLES. THE WELDING SEAM BETWEEN THE BRACKET AND STEERING COLUMN OF AFFECTED SPARE PARTS DOES NOT MEET DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RESULT OF AN OUT OF SPECIFICATION WELDING SEAM IS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MAY DETACH FROM ITS INTERIOR VEHICLE MOUNTING BRACKET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE OPERATOR MAY LOSE STEERING ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMNS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SPRINTER AT 843-695-5057.

07V299000 · Interior Lighting

Jul 13, 2007

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH REAR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, THE INTERIOR LAMP IS EQUIPPED WITH AN 18W LAMP AND A SCATTERING LENS. IN EXTREMELY HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS, THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY, AND THE HEAT FROM THE LAMP DUE TO EXTREME LONG TERM OPERATION, CAN DISTORT THE SCATTERING LENS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SWITCHING CONTACTS OF THE LAMP MAY CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE REAR LAMP INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR INTERIOR LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE WITH A MODIFIED VERSION WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE IMPACTS OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL AT 1-843-695-5041.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.