Big problems with Sprinters

**JDHertz** · 07-20-2006, 09:51 AM

I run a fleet of 25 Sprinter 2500 SHC 140's. I am having many issues with the vehicles. All are 2004 and newer and have a maximum of 75,000 miles. We have all the vehicle's maintained by Sprinter certified Dodge dealers around the country. Each dealer charges whatever they want for service despite a "book time" recommended by Dodge itself. I have spared no expense on maintenance and do every service before it is due. The EGR valves, valve stems, belt tensioners, fuel lines, crank pulleys, serpentine belt, wastegate solenoid, tranny o ring leaks are all breaking in these trucks with freightning frequency. I am tired of having Dodge tell me that we are doing something wrong. They obviously have SERIOUS issues with the quality of the vehicle and service. I have had to pay for many items to be repaired and than not reimbursed once those items show up on Dodge TSB's. I bought at least 5 tires before they admitted having a valve stem issue. Once the admitted it they refused to reimburse for the new tires I had replaced prior to the safety recall. The same goes for the belt tensioners and so on. Has anyone tried to put together a class action suit against Dodge for Sprinter related issues? And if not would anyone here be interested in becoming part of one?

**jjw** · 07-20-2006, 12:04 PM

I know how you feel I have a fleet of 20 Sprinters, keep them maintained and seem to still have constant problems with them. Right now I have one being fixed in Baltimore and had to ship the part myself from a dealership in Dallas. Even with that my truck is still down, because they only have 1 Sprinter tech. Does Dodge not understand that these are commercial vehicles that need to work to make money. Sign me up for the Class action suit.

**Edog** · 08-08-2006, 11:35 PM

I've been interested in Sprinter's now for a couple of years, I was planning to buy one next year. If I get the opportunity, I'll ask Sprinter drivers what they think of their vehicle.
My brother-in-law's Sprinter has about 70K miles on it and the only issue so far is clogging the fuel pump with biodiesel in temp below 40 degrees. I talked with an English guy whose brother in Europe drives one as an airport bus with minor problems at 500K miles on it. He builds coversion vans and now exclusively uses Sprinter's as a base. I talked to one fellow who said he got 25-30 mpg in his low roof 140WB without problems, but it only had 20K miles on it. I have heard of CA models with EGR problems related to excessive idling, but prior to your posts I thought they were a pretty good rig.

I'd like to know more about your situations in which you are seeing those failures. Have you filed your lawsuit yet? Is FedEx still planning to buy 600 Sprinters?

Thanks Everyone for your input. Edog

**JDHertz** · 08-12-2006, 12:19 PM

I am currently getting all my paperwork in order to meet with the lawyer. Do not buy one of these vans you will be sorry. The Dodge dealership network does not recognize them as a Dodge, nor Mercedes as a Mercedes and Freightliner all but stopped even admitting that they exist. You can have the best mechanic/ service center in the world, but if the parts are unavailable, technical training non-existent and REAL support from Daimler/ Chrysler than what good is good fuel mileage? True they get 20-30 MPG...... when they run long enough to use one complete tank of fuel... Email me when you get a chance and I'll be happy to elaborate.........

JDHertz11@aol.com

**Sprinterfleet** · 08-13-2006, 11:45 PM

Hi we are running 70 Sprinters. We have had the following issues.
Leaking Trans seals 10
Broken Crankshaft Pulley 6
Broken Tensioner 5
Wiring harness fractures 5
ECM Failures 2
Alignment problems 20+
Turbo Resonators 4

I think for a premium priced products the German engineering has some serious QC issues. Lots of repeat problems.
However they are still better than the previous GM products we were running. I just wasn't expecting the kind of issues we have been having with a Mercedes product. If they don't get the 2007 sorted they are going to have serious problems in the market.

**Edog** · 08-18-2006, 04:16 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I was expecting better reliability from a Mercedes diesel and from a vehicle that costs more the competition's!
I guess I'm back to looking at cummins powered truck.
Edog

**dup1958** · 09-01-2006, 09:36 AM

Our company has about 70 vehicles of which 3 are Sprinters. All of the Sprinters have had problems with electrical and turbo chargers.We use Enterprise Leasing for some of our vehicles. Our rep said all Sprinters are made in Germany, then disassembled into parts and shipped to the US. Then they are reassembled in SC. They do it this way because of the high tariffs charged on finished vehicles. Enterprise is not currently recommending the purchase of Sprinters because of all the problems. Eventually Daimler is supposed to build a factory here, but that is years off. This might improve quality, but maybe not.

**HKPierce** · 09-01-2006, 05:02 PM

With regard to "jjw" use of Baltimore Freightliner, see my experience with them at http://www.piercehome.us/Site2/BFI.html .

**a.davis** · 09-25-2006, 01:05 PM

I have 36,864 miles on my 2005 158" 2500 van just out of warranty I was told recently by the dealership that "Their was nothing they could do for me" This vehicle has been on the road 9 months! So far list of problems are: Need new brakes AND ROTORS, transmission leaking @ bulkhead, Choppy front tires, Tail lights out, day time running lamps are malfunctioning, right is completly out the left is very weak, oil warning light on (unknown cause), hazard warning lights won't stay engaged. I can handle working out the bugs with these new to the USA vans, but what really disturbs me is that Dodge and the Dodge Dealership Is telling me they do not stand behind thier Vehicles! You know I actually expect this from Dodge! but Mercedes shame on you! Yes I am interested in a class action suit!!!!

**Rdale** · 10-03-2006, 05:33 PM

I have 14 Sprinters all models from year 2003 to 2006 and after one visit to a Dodge service center I knew they weren't going to help do anything. I hooked up with the local Freightliner dealer, they are servicing over 150 Sprinters and have a dedicated "group" of technicians (2-guys) but they do get my repairs done and have been timely in completions. The valve stem issue was my main concern, I haven't had the other major problems must of the other posts indicate. I do have one unit that refuses to start every so often, no pattern as to why and it has been in the shop 5-times for this problem to no avail. We carry a can of WD-40, don't use ether!!!, and remove the intake air hose enough to spray a small amount into the intake manifold, it starts every time we try this. It does seem ridiculous to resort to these primitive methods on a $35000 vehicle.

I did have my oldest unit have two fuel injectors replaced and the difference in operation was amazing. The acceleration is great and fuel consumption is significantly down.

I am in central Florida and only deal with Freightliner, never Dodge, I also won't buy with a Dodge name as one local truck wholesaler says anything with that name brings less money at disposition even though the trucks are identical.