FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 · model year

2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500

5 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005FREIGHTLINERSPRINTER 2500 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 SPRINTER 2500 is power train with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and exterior lighting (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2005 SPRINTER 2500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

5 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1

Recalls (3)

08V33900024/07/2008

STEERING:COLUMN

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

16V83300017/11/2016

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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

07V29900013/07/2007

INTERIOR LIGHTING

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

Recent Complaints

20131106VISIBILITY/WIPER

2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER VAN 2500 WITH NO SIDE DOOR OR REAR DOOR GLASS. THE DRIVER MUST USE THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS THAT ARE NOT HEATED WILL FOG UP WHEN DRIVING IN DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE BLIND. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE ALL FULL SIZE COFFIN VANS WITH NO SIDE OR REAR GLASS SHOULD HAVE HEATED OUTSIDE MIRRORS FROM THE FACTORY, THIS APPLIES TO ANY MAKE FULL SIDE COFFIN VANS, CARGO VANS. *TR

Mileage: 139,200

20131106STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER VAN 2500 WITH NO SIDE DOOR OR REAR DOOR GLASS. THE DRIVER MUST USE THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS THAT ARE NOT HEATED WILL FOG UP WHEN DRIVING IN DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE BLIND. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE ALL FULL SIZE COFFIN VANS WITH NO SIDE OR REAR GLASS SHOULD HAVE HEATED OUTSIDE MIRRORS FROM THE FACTORY, THIS APPLIES TO ANY MAKE FULL SIDE COFFIN VANS, CARGO VANS. *TR

Mileage: 139,200

20110927ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TURN SIGNAL FAILURE AT CONTROL ARM ON STEERING COLUMN. *TT

20110927EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TURN SIGNAL FAILURE AT CONTROL ARM ON STEERING COLUMN. *TT

20080813POWER TRAIN

WHILE CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN INCLINE (6%) IN N.C.,WE HAD SUDDEN LOSE OF POWER IN OUR 2005 FREIGHTLINER (DODGE) SPRINTER. THIS WAS OUR FIRST FAILURE. THE TURBO RESONATOR SEPARATED CAUSING ALMOST COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS HAD THERE BEEN TRAFFIC. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THIS ITEM WITH A MORE RELIABLE ONE. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

Compare 2005FREIGHTLINERSPRINTER 2500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 have?
The 2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500?
Yes, the 2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING:COLUMN. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500?
The most-complained component for the 2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 is POWER TRAIN with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Is the 2005 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.