2002 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

WE PURCHASED SEVERAL 2002 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTERS AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS INCLUDING 2 ENGINE REPLACEMENTS. THESE VEHICLES ARE JUST OUT OF THE 6,00 MILE WARRANTY. THE CHRYSLER CORP ASSISTED ON THE REPAIRS 2 HOWEVER WE NOW HAVE A 3RD VEHICLE THAT HAS 71543 MILES ON IT AND THE CHRYSLER CORP IS REFUSING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR. IF THIS WAS ONLY ON 1 OF THEM I WOULD UNDERSTAND BUT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM. THERE WERE ENOUGH PROBLEMS THAT AMERICAN LAFRANCE AMBULANCE CONVERSION STOPPED MAKING THEM INTO AMBULANCES DUE TO THE PROBLEMS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING UPHILL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A VIBRATION PHYSICALLY FELT THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TORQUE ARM CONVERTER AND PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

I HAVE HAD FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN THE EGR VALVE ON MY SPRINTER HAS LEAKED OIL ALL OVER THE MOTOR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS NOW OVER $500.00 EACH OCCURRENCE. THE AVERAGE MILEAGE FOR THIS FAILURE IS 25,000 MILES. NOT RIGHT FOR A MERCEDES BENZ PRODUCT THAT DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN EUROPE. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER HAS 2002 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER VAN HAD A CARRIER BEARING ON THE DRIVESHAFT WHICH SEIZED AND SPINNED OUT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE DRIVESHAFT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER REPLACE THE DRIVESHAFT. THE CONSUMER MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT IS WAS ONLY WARRANTED FOR 36,000 MILES. THE VAN HAS 130,000 ON IT. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER THAN THIS. THE CONSUMER IS GOING TO HAVE TO BUY THE DRIVESHAFT AT THE PRICE OF $1,000.00. CHRYSLER DENIED THE CLAIM TO HELP REIMBURSE OR EVEN TALK TO THE CONSUMER TWICE AT THIS POINT. THE VAN IS BEING REPAIRED THIS WEEK. THE VAN WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. THE CONSUMER IS UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT DAIMLER/CHRYSLER IS TREATING HER. *AK THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED. UPDATED 12/06/05. *JB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF TERRAIN, BUT IT HAS BEEN MOST COMMON IN AREAS WITH STEEP HILLS. AFTER ACCELLERATING TO MAINTAIN SPEED WHILE CLIMBING A STEEP INCLINE AND FEATHERING THE THROTLE AS THE HILL IS TOPPED, THE (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION KICKS COMPLETELY OUT OF GEAR ON THE DESCENT AND WILL NOT RE-ENGAGE WITHOUT BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL OR PARK AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE. SO FAR, THE DRIVERS FOLLOWING ME HAVE ALL PASSED THE BRAKE TEST AND THEIR HORNS SEEM TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE JULY OF 2004 AND IT CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 25K MILES. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE IT OCCURS INTERMITENTLY AND YOU CAN'T TELL THE TRANS HAS DISENGAGED UNTIL YOU REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND TRY TO ACCELERATE TO CLIMB THE NEXT INCLINE. I CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY MUMBLED SOMETHING ABOUT LEAKY O RINGS BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THERE HAVE BEEN ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS.