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2006 Sprinter 3500 Recalls & Complaints

4

open safety recalls on record

Serious

26 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.58 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious08V134000

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility

THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy & full details

DBNC IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR DBNC AT 1-905-403-7807.

DAIMLER BUSES OF NORTH CAROLINA (DBNC) IS RECALLING 334 MY 2005-2006 SPRINTER 2500 AND MY 2003, 2005-2007 SPRINTER 3500 BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATION IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Serious06V238000

Service Brakes, Air

THIS MAY AFFECT THE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM DURING HARD BRAKING SITUATIONS AND MAY LEAD TO AN INCREASING BRAKE DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL FLUSH AND REPLACE THE BRAKE FLUID FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 17, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-704-655-1000.

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS BUILT ON DODGE AND FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS, THE BRAKE FLUID USED WAS CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. DUE TO THE HIGH WATER CONTENT THE BOILING POINT OF THE SUBJECT BRAKE FLUID IS REDUCED.

Serious07V095000

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility

IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR TO TIP BACKWARDS ONTO THE PLATFORM WHEN THE PLATFORM WAS LOWERED.

Remedy & full details

DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS WORKING WITH RICON TO REPAIR THESE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 06E101). OWNERS CAN CONTACT RICON AT 800-322-2884 OR DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-882-8054.

CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM IN THE LIFT MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE RICON WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFT.

Serious08V387000

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility

LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy & full details

DAIMLER BUSES IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-800-322-2884 OR DAIMLER BUSES AT 1-905-403-7807.

DAIMLER BUSES IS RECALLING 465 MY 2004-2008 SPRINTER 2500 AND 3500 BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.

Complaint volume

26 this model-year 7 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

1Crashes
3Fires
1Injuries
0Deaths

Across 26 complaints. Severity Index 0.58.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Engine And Engine Cooling…6 · 23%Engine And Engine Cooling…4 · 15%Vehicle Speed Control2 · 8%Electrical System2 · 8%Fuel System, Gasoline · D…1 · 4%Power Train · Automatic T…1 · 4%Service Brakes, Hydraulic1 · 4%Equipment1 · 4%
  1. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger — 6 reports
  2. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel — 4 reports
  3. Vehicle Speed Control — 2 reports
  4. Electrical System — 2 reports
  5. Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump — 1 reports
  6. Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) — 1 reports
  7. Service Brakes, Hydraulic — 1 reports
  8. Equipment — 1 reports
  9. Structure — 1 reports
  10. Fuel System, Diesel — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

2003 (2) · 2004 (1) · 2005 (2) · 2006 · 2007 (2) · 2008 (1) · 2010

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.