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2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500
The 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 appears in 5 NHTSA recall campaigns (electrical system, engine and engine cooling and steering) and in 3 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is engine and engine cooling: 333.3 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 77.7 per 1,000 across all 2003 model-year vehicles and against 179.5 per 1,000 for the Dodge Sprinter 2500 line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 13.1 complaints per model year across the 10 Dodge Sprinter 2500 model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2011 (1); the most recent in the file is dated 17 Apr 2014.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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."
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 be an increased risk of a crash.
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 contact DVUSA customer service at 1-770-705-2070.
Filed by Daimler Vans USA, LLC; components: electrical system: instrument cluster/panel; service brakes, hydraulic.
Defect, as filed: 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.
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 may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403 or sprinter at 1-843-695-5031.
Filed by SPRINTER ENGINEERING & COMPLIANCE SUPPOR (manufacturer campaign 2010040002).
Defect, as filed: 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.
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.
Filed by SPRINTER ENGINEERING & COMPLIANCE SUPPOR (manufacturer campaign 2010040002).
Defect, as filed: 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.
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.
Filed by SPRINTER ENGINEERING & COMPLIANCE SUPPOR (manufacturer campaign H25).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by DAIMLERCHRYSLER MANUFACTURING INTL.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 (black) against all 2003 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2003 | Sprinter 2500 line | All 2003 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 333.3 | 179.5 | 77.7 |
| Steering | 333.3 | 19.2 | 47.3 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 333.3 | 6.4 | 12.6 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 333.3 | 179.5 | 77.7 |
| Steering | 1 | 333.3 | 19.2 | 47.3 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 | 333.3 | 6.4 | 12.6 |
3 unique complaints, 3 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Dodge Sprinter 2500 model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 1 | 4,443 |
| 2002 | 4 | 0 | 19,531 |
| 2003 | 5 | 3 | 37,032 |
| 2004 | 3 | 7 | 21,944 |
| 2005 | 3 | 15 | 21,944 |
| 2006 | 5 | 31 | 21,950 |
| 2007 | 5 | 23 | 187,339 |
| 2008 | 5 | 46 | 184,460 |
| 2009 | 4 | 3 | 186,076 |
| 2013 NHTSA | 0 | 2 | — |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Dodge Sprinter 2500 model years · Dodge: 118 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 16V833000, was reported to NHTSA on 17 Nov 2016 and concerns electrical system: instrument cluster/panel. Across all model years the Dodge Sprinter 2500 line has 15 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 complain about most?
Engine and Engine Cooling: 1 of 3 component mentions (333.3 per 1,000). Next is steering with 1. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.