2003 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sprinter 3500 years
- Not enough data 3rd of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Freightliner Sprinter 3500. That ranks 3rd out of 22 Sprinter 3500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 50%), typically at around 150,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 50% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel; service brakes, hydraulic
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.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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). The safety recall began on october 11, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403 or sprinter at 1-843-695-5031.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Steering:column
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.
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 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…
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…
Other Freightliner Sprinter 3500 years
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Freightliner Sprinter 3500?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Freightliner Sprinter 3500?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sprinter 3500 model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.