2008 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 recalls and problems

The 2008 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 has 6 recalls and 7 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is air bags.

How the 2008 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 10 Sprinter 3500 model years — the most of any year.

6recalls

7complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

13,558median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

6 recalls

Air Bags

Jul 28, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V478000 · 43,689 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2007-2009 Freightliner and Dodge Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled into the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy & notes

DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began on September 29, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Note: This recall fully supersedes recall 15V-354 and partially supersedes recalls 16V-379 and 17V-025.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Air Bags

Feb 10, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V077000 · 136,361 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (Daimler Vans) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 31, 2008, 2007-2014 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2014, and 2010-2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2010, to July 1, 2014. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy & notes

Daimler Vans will notify the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners and Fiat Chrysler will notify the Dodge owners. The respective dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2017. Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner owners may contact Daimler Van's customer service at 1-877-762-8267. Dodge owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seat Belts

Mar 30, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V210000 · 3,437 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 2500 and 3500 sprinter vehicles equipped with an optional three-seat bench in the passenger compartment. The seat benches in the second seating row May have been equipped with safety belts that do not meet the minimum requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, "occupant protection in interior impact," and motor vehicle safety standard 209, "seat belt assemblies." first, those safety belts May not lock as required. Second, the assembly loop May not perform to minimum force requirements.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 2500 AND 3500 SPRINTER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THREE-SEAT BENCH IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE SEAT BENCHES IN THE SECOND SEATING ROW MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELTS THAT DO NOT MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT," AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." FIRST, THOSE SAFETY BELTS MAY NOT LOCK AS REQUIRED. SECOND, THE ASSEMBLY LOOP MAY NOT PERFORM TO MINIMUM FORCE REQUIREMENTS.

Risk: In the event of a crash, the safety belts in these vehicles May not perform as required such that a seat occupant May not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SAFETY BELTS IN THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT PERFORM AS REQUIRED SUCH THAT A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Mercedes-Benz will inspect and replace any seat belt assemblies that do not meet the requirements free of charge. The safety recall began on July 15, 2011. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 843-695-5000.

Mercedes-Benz recall campaign number is L17.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Equipment

Nov 19, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V456000 · 269 vehicles

Problem: Cues, INC. Is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 service vehicles built on various chassis equipped with carrier airv ceiling units, model nos. 68RV0010BA, 68RV0012CA, and 68RV0010EA. The heater element in these assemblies May be defective which could cause the unit to create smoke or sparks.

Original NHTSA wording

CUES, INC. IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 SERVICE VEHICLES BUILT ON VARIOUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER AIRV CEILING UNITS, MODEL NOS. 68RV0010BA, 68RV0012CA, AND 68RV0010EA. THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THESE ASSEMBLIES MAY BE DEFECTIVE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE UNIT TO CREATE SMOKE OR SPARKS.

Risk: This defect could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Cues is working with carrier to remedy the affected vehicles. Repairs will be made by carrier free of charge. Please see carrier's defect report 09E-053. The safety recall began on January 5, 2010. Owners May contact carrier at 1-877-584-7059 or cues at 1-407-849-0190.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Power Train

Jul 29, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V352000 · 73 vehicles

Problem: Sprinter is recalling 79 my 2008 Dodge and Freightliner 3500 trucks. Some of the left drive shafts on the rear axle which were labeled with the charge indicator "s," May contain cracks at the radius between the shaft and the flange.

Original NHTSA wording

SPRINTER IS RECALLING 79 MY 2008 DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER 3500 TRUCKS. SOME OF THE LEFT DRIVE SHAFTS ON THE REAR AXLE WHICH WERE LABELED WITH THE CHARGE INDICATOR "S," MAY CONTAIN CRACKS AT THE RADIUS BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE FLANGE.

Risk: These cracks May cause a breakage of the drive shaft increasing the risk of crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THESE CRACKS MAY CAUSE A BREAKAGE OF THE DRIVE SHAFT INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will check the left rear drive shaft for charge indicator "s" and replace it free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2008. Owners May contact sprinter at 1-843-695-5000.

Sprinter recall no. H27.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Service Brakes

Mar 11, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V110000 · 34 vehicles

Problem: Sprinter is recalling 34 my 2007-2008 Dodge and Freightliner sprinter 3500 cargo vans. Some of these vans May not have had the correct brake components installed.

Original NHTSA wording

SPRINTER IS RECALLING 34 MY 2007-2008 DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 3500 CARGO VANS. SOME OF THESE VANS MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE CORRECT BRAKE COMPONENTS INSTALLED.

Risk: This could result in poor braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install the appropriate master brake cylinders and brake fluid reservoirs. The recall began on June 30, 2008. Owners May contact sprinter at 1-800-992-1997.

Sprinter recall no. H10.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Air Bags4

Wheels2

Steering1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

Summary

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been n…

2008 vs. other Freightliner Sprinter 3500 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2008. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2008 Freightliner Sprinter 3500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the 2008 Freightliner Sprinter 3500, the latest from Jul 28, 2017 (air bags). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Freightliner Sprinter 3500?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention air bags (4), wheels (2), steering (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.