Freightliner Sprinter 3500 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 21 owner complaints and 73 safety recalls on file for the Freightliner Sprinter 3500, across 22 model years (2001–2022). The 2008 model year has the most complaints (7). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Freightliner Sprinter 3500 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Sprinter 3500 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2008 Sprinter 3500: 7 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2010 Sprinter 3500: 3 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2017 Sprinter 3500: 2 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2005 Sprinter 3500: 1 complaint, 2 recalls
- 2006 Sprinter 3500: 1 complaint, 2 recalls
- 2011 Sprinter 3500: 1 complaint, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Freightliner Sprinter 3500 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Power Train | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Freightliner Sprinter 3500 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2021 Sprinter 3500 | 1 | 11 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2020 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 17 | — | — | |
| 2019 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 36 | — | — | |
| 2018 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 8 | — | — | |
| 2017 Sprinter 3500 | 2 | 7 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2016 Sprinter 3500 | 1 | 11 | — | Power Train | |
| 2015 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 9 | — | — | |
| 2014 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 5 | — | — | |
| 2013 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 5 | — | — | |
| 2012 Sprinter 3500 | 2 | 3 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2011 Sprinter 3500 | 1 | 2 | — | Exterior Lighting | |
| 2010 Sprinter 3500 | 3 | 4 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2009 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 4 | — | — | |
| 2008 Sprinter 3500 | 7 | 6 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2007 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 6 | — | — | |
| 2006 Sprinter 3500 | 1 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2005 Sprinter 3500 | 1 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2004 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2003 Sprinter 3500 | 2 | 4 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2002 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 3 | — | — | |
| 2001 Sprinter 3500 | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from Freightliner: all Freightliner models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Freightliner Sprinter 3500 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2008 (7), 2010 (3), 2017 (2). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Freightliner Sprinter 3500?
Air Bags, with 5 complaints across 2 model years.
How many recalls does the Freightliner Sprinter 3500 have?
73 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.