2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 11, 2023 · 12 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Sprinter 2500 years
About as many complaints as other years 5th of 10 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500. That ranks 5th out of 10 Sprinter 2500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints, 42%), typically at around 131,000 miles. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System5 · ~131,000 mi
Engine3 · ~124,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling3 · ~29,000 mi
Electronic Stability Control (esc)2 · ~124,000 mi
Power Train2 · ~69,094 mi
Tires2 · ~47,000 mi
Exterior Lighting1 · ~29,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion System1 · ~124,000 mi
Unknown or Other1 · ~124,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System542%131,000——
Engine325%124,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling325%29,000——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)217%124,000——
Power Train217%69,094——
Tires217%47,000——
Exterior Lighting18%29,000——
Fuel/propulsion System18%124,000——
Unknown or Other18%124,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2018, with 3 complaints
2011: 1201112012: 1201212014: 1201412018: 3201832019: 3201932020: 1202012022: 1202212023: 120231

n = 12 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500 recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel; service brakes, hydraulicNov 17, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V833000 · 17,501 vehicles

Problem: 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 the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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 the remedy becomes available. The recall began on July 27, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-770-705-2070.

Steering:columnJul 24, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V339000 · 10 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: The operator may lose steering ability of the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Interior lightingJul 13, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V299000 · 4,433 vehicles

Problem: On certain trucks equipped with rear air conditioning system, the interior lamp is equipped with an 18w lamp and a scattering lens. In extremely hot and humid conditions, the combination of heat and humidity, and the heat from the lamp due to extreme long term operation, can distort the scattering lens.

Risk: The switching contacts of the lamp may cause a short circuit of the rear lamp increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the rear interior lamps free of charge with a modified version which is not subject to the impacts of heat and humidity. The recall began on december 17, 2007. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler manufacturing international at 1-843-695-5041.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway with the ignition key turned to the off position however, the vehicle remained on, causing the battery to be drained. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with…

Engine and Engine Cooling · received Aug 11, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11537939

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500. The contact stated the backlight of the instrument panel had remained illuminated after the vehicle was turned off, and remained constantly illuminated. The failure had been ongoing for the past three years. The contact stated that the failure drained…

Electrical System · received Aug 5, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11477740

The t21 recall has completely ruined my perfectly maintained and stable work vehicle. Initially after having the recall done it left my battery dead as it left components running...it has been in and out of the shop for 5 months since the recall they keep throwing fixes at it which never seem to…

Electrical System · received Mar 7, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11316729

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge sprinter 2500. When attempting to start the vehicle, the auxiliary fan turned on, but the vehicle would not start. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was repaired per manufacturer recall number: t21 for the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…

Engine · received Oct 2, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11265743

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WALNUT CREEK CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (2404 N MAIN ST, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596, [redacted]) TO BE SERVICED PER THE…

Power Train · received Aug 13, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11243759

Other Dodge Sprinter 2500 years

← 2003 Sprinter 2500 · 2005 Sprinter 2500 →

See all Dodge Sprinter 2500 problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500?

Owners most often report electrical system, engine, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 5 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sprinter 2500 model years, the 2004 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.