NHTSA Complaint #10268926 — 2007 DODGE SPRINTER 2500

THE 2006 SPRINTER VAN SOLD UNDER THE DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER BRAND (MADE BY MERCEDES) HAS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT CAUSES AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE "RESONATOR", A PLASTIC PART THAT IS PART OF THE AIR INTAKE FOR THE TURBO CHARGER. THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS PART IS TO REDUCE THE "WHINE" OF THE TURBOCHARGER. THE PART IS MOLDED PLASTIC, AND IT FAILS BETWEEN WHERE THE TWO PARTS ARE MOLDED. WHEN IT FAILS, THE ENGINE COMPUTER THINKS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE HAS OCCURRED, AND PUTS THE ENGINE IN "LIMP HOME" MODE, WITH AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. IF PASSING, OR GOING UPHILL, THE CAR WILL BEHAVE AS IF THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ZERO POWER RESULTING IN A RAPID DECELERATION. IF PASSING, THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT POWER TO COMPLETE THE PASS. UPHILL MAXIMUM SPEED IS ABOUT 20 TO 35 MPH, EVEN WITH A FULL THROTTLE. THIS DEFECT AFFECTS ALL 2006 SPRINTER VANS WITH THE 2.7 LITRE ENGINE. MANY RV'S ARE BUILT ON THIS PLATFORM, INCLUDING ROADTREK, PLEASURE WAY, LEISURE WAY, GREAT WESTERN, AND OTHERS. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO USE BY MANY DELIVERY SERVICES. THIS IS SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR INJURY AND IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. MINE FAILED AT 9800 MILES. REPORTS OF OTHERS FAILING WITHIN 2000 MILES AND REPEATED FAILURES AFTER REPLACEMENT. MINE FAILED WHEN GOING 65 ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL ROAD. HAD IT OCCURRED WHEN PASSING, I COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY KILLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD THE DEALER CHECK THE RESONATOR BEFORE A LONG TRIP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR