2005 DODGE SPRINTER 3500 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THE CAR WAS IN SLOW DRIVING CONDITION IN HOT WEATHER DRIVING.. THE HEATER FAN MOTOR AND/OR HEATER FAN WIRING AT THE MOTOR OVERHEATED AND BURNED ALL PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR AND WIRING NEAR IT. THE FIRE THEN SPREAD TO SURROUNDING PLASTIC HEATER BLOWER FAN HOUSING AND EXTINGUISHED WHEN HEATER HOSE BURNED AND BURST/SPRAYED SENDING ANTIFREEZE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE SOURCE WAS EASILY IDENTIFIED AS THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED IN THE WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE FAN MOTOR CONNECTOR AREA AND NO OTHER PART OF THE UNDERHOOD FIRE. THE CORRECT AMPERAGE FUSE IS IN PLACE FOR THE AFFECTED CIRCUITS POWERING THE FAN MOTOR. THE FACTORY IS INVESTIGATING THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. I HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE FIRE DAMAGE.

OUR TURBO RESONATOR FAILED FOUR TIMES. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY NO POWER AND OUR VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND OUR MAXIMUM SPEED WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO US THE 4TH TIME I RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND IT LOOKS LIKE LATE 2004, 2005, 2006 AND 2007 MODELS ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.7 LITER 5 CYLINDER IN LINE TURBO DIESEL. THE RESONATOR IS MADE OF A PLASTIC BONDED TOGETHER ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT WELL SUITED FOR HIGH HEAT, VIBRATION AND HIGH PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT SO IT SPLITS AND PUTS THE VEHICLE AND OCCUPANTS IN GREAT DANGER . ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE I READ THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY SPRINT OWNERS AND THAT THERE IS AN EASY FIX. I STRONGLY FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE DODGE CORPORATE OFFICE AND TO TIMOTHY KUNISKI BY LETTER ASKING WHY THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS RESONATOR. DATES THAT RESONATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED:6/30/2008, 6/20/2011, 7/15/14 10/8/2015. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST TIME WE REPLACED THE RESONATOR OUR MILEAGE WAS 37,722, THE SECOND TIME WE REPLACED THE RESONATOR OUR MILEAGE WAS 60,433, THE THIRD TIME MILEAGE WAS 93,424 AND THE FOURTH TIME WAS 97,267 STATUS UPDATED 11/15/16.*JB UPDATED 12/29/16.*JB UPDATED 03/08/17.*JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN UPDATE. UPDATED 03/21/2017 *JS

OUR TURBO RESONATOR FAILED FOUR TIMES. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY NO POWER AND OUR VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND OUR MAXIMUM SPEED WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO US THE 4TH TIME I RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND IT LOOKS LIKE LATE 2004, 2005, 2006 AND 2007 MODELS ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.7 LITER 5 CYLINDER IN LINE TURBO DIESEL. THE RESONATOR IS MADE OF A PLASTIC BONDED TOGETHER ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT WELL SUITED FOR HIGH HEAT, VIBRATION AND HIGH PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT SO IT SPLITS AND PUTS THE VEHICLE AND OCCUPANTS IN GREAT DANGER . ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE I READ THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY SPRINT OWNERS AND THAT THERE IS AN EASY FIX. I STRONGLY FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE DODGE CORPORATE OFFICE AND TO TIMOTHY KUNISKI BY LETTER ASKING WHY THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS RESONATOR. DATES THAT RESONATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED:6/30/2008, 6/20/2011, 7/15/14 10/8/2015. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST TIME WE REPLACED THE RESONATOR OUR MILEAGE WAS 37,722, THE SECOND TIME WE REPLACED THE RESONATOR OUR MILEAGE WAS 60,433, THE THIRD TIME MILEAGE WAS 93,424 AND THE FOURTH TIME WAS 97,267 STATUS UPDATED 11/15/16.*JB UPDATED 12/29/16.*JB UPDATED 03/08/17.*JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN UPDATE. UPDATED 03/21/2017 *JS

JUNE 14, 2009 NHTSA: FOR THE 4TH TIME OUR WINNEBAGO DODGE SPRINTER/RV HAS LOST POWER DUE TO PARTS FAILURE [TURBO RESONATORS, SENSORS, AND/OR TURBOCHARGER]. NEEDLESS TO SAY THESE FAILURES TOOK PLACE WHILE MANY MILES FROM HOME AND AWAY FROM ANYONE WHO COULD HELP. WHEN CERTAIN PARTS FAIL, THE SPRINTER IS DESIGNED TO ENTER A "LIMP HOME" MODE AT A GREATLY REDUCED SPEED, THUS ENDANGERING US AS WE WERE TRAVELING ON BUSY HIGHWAYS, FEARFUL WE WOULD BE REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK OR OTHER HEAVY VEHICLES. IN ADDITION TO IMPERILING OUR LIVES, WE HAVE ENDURED EXTRA EXPENSE AND GREAT INCONVENIENCE FOR DELAYED AND CANCELED TRIPS RESULTING FROM THESE BREAKDOWNS. JUDGING FROM FORUMS ONLINE RECENTLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS QUITE COMMON AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS WELL AWARE OF IT, BUT, BY INACTION, HAS FAILED TO REMEDY. DEALERS REPLACED THE PARTS WITH THE SAME FLIMSY PLASTIC DEFECTIVE PARTS, WHICH IS NOT SATISFACTORY AS THEY WILL INEVITABLY FAIL AGAIN. A RECALL IS CERTAINLY JUSTIFIED. GEORGE AND BARBARA DEMATTEIS CC: DAIMLER CHRYSLER MOTORS CORP. WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES ED VOYLES CHRYSLER CONGRESSMAN LYNN WESTMORELAND. *TR

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE CLIMBING A HILL ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. MAX VEHICLE SPEED DROPPED TO 25MPH ON 55MPH ROAD - NEARLY REAR-ENDED BY VEHICLE BEHIND. HAD TO DRIVE OVER 150 MILES HOME AT SLOW SPEEDS TO GET TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TURBO RESONATOR. *TR