NHTSA Complaint #10360748 — 2006 SPRINTER 2500

2006 DODGE SPRINTER2500 PASSENGER VAN. SINCE FIRST MONTHS OF PURCHASE, ACTIVATING THE REAR A/C WHILE IN HOT WEATHER CAUSES THE ENGINE TO DIE WITHOUT NOTICE. THE 5 TIME RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE UNDER WARRANTY RESULTED IN SENSOR CHANGES TO NO AVAIL AS THEY CLAIMED THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE OR BRING UP A CODE. ENGINE FAILURE IS CHRONIC, USUALLY OCCURRING DURING REDUCED SPEED SUCH AS COMING OFF A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP AND WILL RESTART ONLY IN PARK. THIS IS A REPORTED PROBLEM BY NUMEROUS PASSENGER SPRINTER OWNERS. AT 35,000 MILES, THE FRONT A/C REDUCES AIR FLOW AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES WHEN THE AIR CIRCULATION BUTTON IS FORCED OFF ON IT'S OWN. LIMP HOME MODE BEGAN AS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AT 40,000 MILES. DIESEL FUEL AND FILTER CHANGES HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE. AT 45,000 MILES, RATTLING BEGAN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT INITIAL DRIVE MODE ONLY. AT 50,000 MILES, EXTREME POWER LOSS REVEALED A SPLIT IN THE INTERCOOLER HOSE, A FLAW IN NUMEROUS FORUMS IN SPRINTER DESIGN INCLUDING THE NEWER MODELS. DODGE CONTINUES TO DENY THE COMMON REAR A/C ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM. *TR