U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Freightliner SPRINTER 3500: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

6,512 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2007

2007: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10196383 · 2007-07-15 (July 15, 2007)

NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING ON A CLEAR DAY VEHICLE SLOWED TO LIMP HOME MODE. DISCOVERED SEAL ON TURBO RESONATOR BLEW AND WAS DEFECTIVE. MECHANIC REPORTED NUMEROUS OTHERS. CHECKED ON INTERNET AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF SAME PROBLEM. DISAPPOINTED THAT FEW SHOWED UP ON NHTSA.DOT.GOV. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 6,512 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196383 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

08V339000 · Steering:Column

Reported: 2008-07-24 (July 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

16V833000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported: 2016-11-17 (November 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

100.0%Usable mileage1 / 1 records

100.0%Valid incident date1 / 1 records

100.0%Valid filing date1 / 1 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 1 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Air Bags	457.1% ODI 10836477 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V354000 (AIR BAGS) SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V077000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO RESPONSE ON WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO REFER THE CONTACT TO A DEALER TO RECEIVE A REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT A… Look up ODI 10836477 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 10395123 · 800 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. Look up ODI 10395123 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	2100.0% ODI 11491472 ABS SPEED SENSOR, TRACTION REAR SPEED SENSOR FAULT CODE C0037 AND C003A. SPEED REDUCES TO 20MPH HIGH ENGINE RPM REV OVER 3000 RPM Look up ODI 11491472 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 11398562 · 40,400 mi WHILE DRIVING USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE SPEED WAS INCREASING 15 MPH PAST THE SETTING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY USING THE BRAKE. THEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AFTER THAT IT WOULDN'T SHIFT RIGHT, IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO A HIGH GEAR AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO GET MOVING FROM A STOP. I HAD TO DRIVE TO A DEALER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AND IT WAS QUITE HARROWING. OF COURSE THEY COULDN'T WORK ON IT FOR 3 DAYS SO WE RENTED A CAR TO GO BACK HOME 400 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS A REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 5 MONTH… Look up ODI 11398562 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	2100.0% ODI 11491472 ABS SPEED SENSOR, TRACTION REAR SPEED SENSOR FAULT CODE C0037 AND C003A. SPEED REDUCES TO 20MPH HIGH ENGINE RPM REV OVER 3000 RPM Look up ODI 11491472 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 11398562 · 40,400 mi WHILE DRIVING USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE SPEED WAS INCREASING 15 MPH PAST THE SETTING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY USING THE BRAKE. THEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AFTER THAT IT WOULDN'T SHIFT RIGHT, IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO A HIGH GEAR AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO GET MOVING FROM A STOP. I HAD TO DRIVE TO A DEALER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AND IT WAS QUITE HARROWING. OF COURSE THEY COULDN'T WORK ON IT FOR 3 DAYS SO WE RENTED A CAR TO GO BACK HOME 400 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS A REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 5 MONTH… Look up ODI 11398562 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 11185506 LEFT TAILLIGHT WORKS ONLY SOMETIMES. AS RECALL ON PREVIOS RECALLS. LEFT TAILLIGHT SOMETIMES WORKS AND IS GETTING WATER IN SYSTEM. VERY DIM WHEN DOES WORK. DT AS Look up ODI 11185506 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Exterior Lighting	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 11479209 RV motor shutdowns on freeways. Needed towed to different rv repair shops. No place I went to could repair right. Look up ODI 11479209 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 11185506 LEFT TAILLIGHT WORKS ONLY SOMETIMES. AS RECALL ON PREVIOS RECALLS. LEFT TAILLIGHT SOMETIMES WORKS AND IS GETTING WATER IN SYSTEM. VERY DIM WHEN DOES WORK. DT AS Look up ODI 11185506 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Fuel/Propulsion System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 11232510 · 13,402 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND FUEL PRESSURE LOW WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EXCEL TRUCK GROUP OF COLUMBIA (2790 SHOP RD, COLUMBIA, SC 29209) AND WAS REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DISCLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,402. BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SENSOR WAS BAD AND HAD IT REPLACED AT THE TUNE OF $1455.41. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. TR Look up ODI 11232510 at NHTSA ↗	1100.0% ODI 11479209 RV motor shutdowns on freeways. Needed towed to different rv repair shops. No place I went to could repair right. Look up ODI 11479209 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 11491472 ABS SPEED SENSOR, TRACTION REAR SPEED SENSOR FAULT CODE C0037 AND C003A. SPEED REDUCES TO 20MPH HIGH ENGINE RPM REV OVER 3000 RPM Look up ODI 11491472 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 11398562 · 40,400 mi WHILE DRIVING USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE SPEED WAS INCREASING 15 MPH PAST THE SETTING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY USING THE BRAKE. THEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AFTER THAT IT WOULDN'T SHIFT RIGHT, IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO A HIGH GEAR AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO GET MOVING FROM A STOP. I HAD TO DRIVE TO A DEALER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AND IT WAS QUITE HARROWING. OF COURSE THEY COULDN'T WORK ON IT FOR 3 DAYS SO WE RENTED A CAR TO GO BACK HOME 400 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS A REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 5 MONTH… Look up ODI 11398562 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger	Too few reports for a range	6,512 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10196383 · 6,512 mi NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING ON A CLEAR DAY VEHICLE SLOWED TO LIMP HOME MODE. DISCOVERED SEAL ON TURBO RESONATOR BLEW AND WAS DEFECTIVE. MECHANIC REPORTED NUMEROUS OTHERS. CHECKED ON INTERNET AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF SAME PROBLEM. DISAPPOINTED THAT FEW SHOWED UP ON NHTSA.DOT.GOV. *AK Look up ODI 10196383 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2021: 1 complaints · 2022: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2021	0	1	1
2022	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2021	1	0	0
2022	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.