The 2003 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 37,032 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
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…
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 the remedy becomes available. The recall began on July 27, 2017. Owners may…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11V4100002011-08-09665 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…
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). THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 11, 2011. OWNERS…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING09V4180002009-10-2914,423 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…
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.
STEERING08V3390002008-07-2410 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…
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.
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.
Consequence
THE SWITCHING CONTACTS OF THE LAMP MAY CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE REAR LAMP INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
3
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
Total complaints8
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 freightliner sprinter 2500. The contact stated while driving 14 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the master warning light was illuminated. The contact parked on the side of the roadway. The vehicle was then…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 freightliner sprinter 2500. The contact stated while driving 14 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the master warning light was illuminated. The contact parked on the side of the roadway. The vehicle was then…”
“Tl* the contact owned a 2003 n/a freightliner sprinter van. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle began to lose speed, than the vehicle began to shutter and the contact looked thru the rear passenger side view mirror and noticed black smoke coming from exhaust. The contact…”
“Vehicle experienced reduced power and whoosh sound. Found intake manifold with cracks leaking exhaust from egr runner. Made temporary repair on the road and was able to return to shop. Found there was a recall on this part (2010-040002) but have been unable to get repair from daimler vans usa. *tr”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 freightliner sprinter 2500. The contact stated after receiving a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 11v410000 (engine and engine cooling), the contact called the dealer. The dealer stated that they could not remedy the vehicle due to the dealer not being able to…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 freightliner sprinter 2500. The contact stated after receiving a recall notice, he took the vehicle was taken to a local dealer. The dealer stated the contact had to pay to have the recall repair performed on the vehicle. The contact stated the recall said the remedy…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 freightliner sprinter 2500. The contact stated after receiving a recall notice, he took the vehicle was taken to a local dealer. The dealer stated the contact had to pay to have the recall repair performed on the vehicle. The contact stated the recall said the remedy…”
“I received a recall notice for my vehicle. I contacted the number in the letter to have the problem corrected. After speaking with a representative, I was informed that the closest repair center was 110 miles away. The service center where the work would be performed is only open m-f, 7a-5p. In…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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