2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
2
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500
The 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 has received a total of 2 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM. The most commonly reported problem area is the Electrical System (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500, potentially affecting up to 50,100 vehicles.
Recall 16V833000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
| 17,501 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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...
View full details →Recall 16V833000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
| 17,501 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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...
View full details →Recall 11V410000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
| 665 vehicles affected
Defect: MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002- 2003 SPRINTER 2500 AND 3500 VANS SOLD AS DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS MAY HAVE CORRODED. A CHEMICAL REACTION INVOLVING SULFUR IN THE DIESEL FUEL THAT TAKES PLACE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS CAN LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF SULFURIC ACID IN THE EXHAUST CHANNEL OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Consequence: INTAKE MANIFOLD CORROSION MAY LEAD TO AN EXHAUST GAS LEAK, DAMAGE TO THE FUEL RETURN LINE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK, AND HEAT DAMAGE TO THE INSULATION AT THE FIRE WALL. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FREE OF CHARGE. CHRYSLER, LLC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF DODGE SPRINTERS AND MBUSA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS FREIGHTLINER SPRINTERS. THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V-418)....
View full details →Recall 09V418000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
| 14,423 vehicles affected
Defect: SPRINTER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2003 VANS SOLD AS DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS MAY HAVE CORRODED. A CHEMICAL REACTION INVOLVING SULFUR IN THE DIESEL FUEL THAT TAKES PLACE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS CAN LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF SULFURIC ACID IN THE EXHAUST CHANNEL OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Consequence: INTAKE MANIFOLD CORROSION MAY LEAD TO AN EXHAUST GAS LEAK, DAMAGE TO THE FUEL RETURN LINE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK, AND HEAT DAMAGE TO THE INSULATION AT THE FRONT WALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FREE OF CHARGE. CHRYSLER, LLC IS HANDLING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403 OR SPRINTER AT 843-695-5031.
View full details →Recall 08V339000 — STEERING:COLUMN
| 10 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2003 Freightliner Sprinter 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V418000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT DAY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SAME FUSE HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE SAME FUSE NEEDED REPLACEMENT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE STARTED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM WAS MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Safety Rating for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500
- 2001 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 — 0 complaints
- 2002 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 — 0 complaints
- 2003 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 (current)
- 2004 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 — 0 complaints
- 2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 — 1 complaint
- 2006 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 — 2 complaints
- 2007 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 — 0 complaints
- 2008 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 — 7 complaints
Other FREIGHTLINER Models
- FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA — 396 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER — 188 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL — 117 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA — 110 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 76 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 — 64 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2 — 62 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER FL-70 — 50 total complaints