NHTSA Complaint #10324074 — 2006 DODGE SPRINTER 2500

I OWN A 2006 DODGE SPRINTER (IT'S ACTUALLY A WINNEBAGO VIEW MOTOR HOME MOUNTED ON THE DODGE SPRINTER (MERCEDES SPRINTER) CHASSIS. THE SPRINTER HAS A PLASTIC PART KNOWN AS A TURBO RESONATOR TO DAMPEN THE WHINE OF THE TURBOCHARGER. THIS PART HAS FAILED THREE TIMES IN A LITTLE OVER 20,000 MILES. I'M NOW PARKED AND WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE DRIVING HOME FROM A VACATION. I'VE DECIDED TO TRY TO REPLACE THE PART MYSELF, RATHER THAN DRIVE WITH LIMITED POWER AND SPEED TO A DODGE SPRINTER DEALER ABOUT 100 MILES AWAY. NOT ALL DODGE DEALERS SERVICE SPRINTERS. THE PART HAS ALWAYS BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE DODGE AND MERCEDES HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE WEAKNESS IN THIS PART. IT FAILS UNPREDICTABLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND SPEED. THIS WOULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. LEAVING JEKYLL ISLAND, GA., ON MONDAY, I HAD TO CLIMB A STEEP GRADE TO CROSS A BRIDGE. I COULD ONLY DRIVE 30 MPH. ON FLAT HIGHWAY, I COULD ONLY RUN 50 TO 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WITH A POSTED SPEED OF 65. FROM EVERYTHING I READ ON SPRINTER FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. PLEASE INSIST THAT DODGE AND MERCEDES CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. FRANKLY, THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMONLY KNOWN AMONG SPRINTER OWNERS, I'M SURPRISED THERE ALREADY HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. THE INCIDENT DATE IS ONLY THE LATEST SAGA. I'M GUESSING THAT I'VE HAD OTHER FAILURES AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES, 15,000 MILES AND NOW ABOUT 23,000 MILES. *TR