The 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 VEHICLE MOUNTING BRACKET.
The risk
THE OPERATOR MAY LOSE STEERING ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Dodge Sprinter 2500 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| Dodge Sprinter 3500 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
Components: STEERING:COLUMN
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Sprinter 2500 | 2001 | 1 | 2 |
| Dodge Sprinter 2500 | 2002 | 0 | 4 |
| Dodge Sprinter 2500 | 2003 | 5 | 5 |
| Dodge Sprinter 2500 | 2004 | 12 | 3 |
| Dodge Sprinter 2500 | 2005 | 21 | 3 |
| Dodge Sprinter 2500 | 2006 | 34 | 5 |
| Dodge Sprinter 3500 | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Dodge Sprinter 3500 | 2002 | 0 | 3 |
| Dodge Sprinter 3500 | 2003 | 0 | 4 |
| Dodge Sprinter 3500 | 2004 | 2 | 2 |
| Dodge Sprinter 3500 | 2005 | 6 | 2 |
| Dodge Sprinter 3500 | 2006 | 24 | 3 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | 2002 | 0 | 4 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | 2003 | 6 | 5 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | 2004 | 0 | 3 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | 2005 | 3 | 3 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 2500 | 2006 | 3 | 3 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | 2002 | 0 | 3 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | 2003 | 2 | 4 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | 2004 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | 2005 | 1 | 2 |
| Freightliner Sprinter 3500 | 2006 | 1 | 2 |
Other steering recalls in 2008
62 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the steering; SPRINTER ENGINEERING & COMPLIANCE SUPPOR filed 12 campaigns in all.
| 08V682000 19 Dec 2008 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 08V610000 24 Nov 2008 | PREVOST CARS, INC. |
| 08V616000 24 Nov 2008 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 08V578000 3 Nov 2008 | MONACO COACH CORPORATION |
| 08V577000 3 Nov 2008 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 08V571000 29 Oct 2008 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 08V566000 28 Oct 2008 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 08V575000 24 Oct 2008 | TADANO AMERICA CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008