2005 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (1) · Power Train (1) · Exterior Lighting (1)
Safety recalls (1)
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2016-11-17 · campaign 16V833000 · 17,501 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
2013-11-06 · Visibility/Wiper · 139,200 mi“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 …”
2011-09-27 · Exterior Lighting“turn signal failure at control arm on steering column. *tt …”
2008-08-13 · Power Train · 41,000 mi“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…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.