Used 2005 Dodge Sprinter Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2005 Sprinter, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sprinter since its last redesign.
Best Cargo Van Available - Buy it
Oiseauzepher, 12/18/2004
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 140 WB 3dr Ext Van (2.7L 5cyl Turbodiesel 5A)
16 of 16 people found this review helpful
I move art and the vehicle is smallest choice possible. I must say I am amazed at all the possitive comments I get about the style. Kind of a European spy thing. It handles well (it is a van). Plenty of pickup and speed, 80mph no prob. I live in Colorado, so I've given the vehicle a work out on hills and cold - damn cold weather. If you're going to use the van in very cold, get the aux heater package. Great idea. You can set the aux heater to preheat the engine and cab for anytime. It runs on the fuel so don't use in a garage. Great fuel economy (25+) on the hwy. Cup holder too low. Washer fluid freezes in exterior line below 25. Steering wheel should adjust. Great Van - Buy it.
Great concept, iffy execution
sdeb, 02/22/2007
2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500 118 WB 3dr Van (2.7L 5cyl Turbodiesel 5A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
This vehicle fills a niche in the market. If you want an economic diesel vehicle that you can use for hauling stuff or hauling family, then this is only thing out there that fits the bill. A mini-van can't tow, a pickup won't seat 7 people and a giant SUV won't get 24 mpg. It has an amazing payload, decent towing capacity, loads of interior space and is fairly economic (although diesel is pricey). The van has distinctive styling on the outside. The interior is spartan - rubber floors and plastic. As a van, it uses rear leaf springs and tends to be bouncy when unladen. That said, it's not uncomfortable, particularly on highways. Sort of noisy if you're not into diesel rumble.
Bought new- Owned 12+ years so far. (Now 15.5 year
Bobby C., 11/22/2017
updated 11/30/2020
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 High Roof 158 WB 3dr Ext Van (2.7L 5cyl Turbodiesel 5A)
36 of 39 people found this review helpful
I ordered my 2005 in July 04 158" tall cargo van brand new for recreational use: long distance enroute camping, towing small travel trailer, utility use for cargo and building materials and took delivery in Feb 05 when it arrived at the dealership.. After owning it 12 1/2 years I can't imagine getting rid of it ever. Great MPG at 25-27, even when loaded with 1500 pounds in the back. Tows 3500 pounds with ease. Performance is adequate if you don't activate the turbo, but open it up (I've only done it a few times) and it's downright QUICK. I baby the vehicle big-time, and it's never let me down mechanically. When loaded or towing I use a complete electronic gauge package ("Edge") and I VERY carefully monitor and regulate the EGT, manifold pressure, and fuel rail pressures using speed control, gear selection, and throttle position. I did have a 150a alternator regulator fail at 60k miles, but other than that no problems unless you count the auxiliary diesel fuel powered hydronic block heater that quit after only 6 uses or so. The transmission works fine, but makes noises like driving over a highway rumble strip at times. Was like this when I picked up the van w/ 12mi on the odometer, and it still does it. Mercedes says "they all do it" and that it's not a defect. Also fuel lines vibrate at certain throttle settings and RPM, but again, it hasn't gotten worse. The original tires have legal tread at over 60,000mi. The brakes made the vehicle shake like it was falling apart when hot towing long downhills (only light application), but when empty, no vibration. I installed new drilled, slotted rotors and super heavy duty pads thinking it was hot brakes, but there was no change. Again, "they all do it," though no one knows why. The rotors are NOT warped, and at 50,000mi the fronts still had zero run-out, no wear ridge, and the pads were only 30% worn. The ride is not great empty or full compared to my former E-350 Econoline diesel van, but it's acceptable. The heater and A/C are useless in hot or cold climates unless you install a barrier behind the front seats, even with a super-insulated cabin (I installed 1" rigid foam on ever sq inch of the cargo compartment walls and ceiling, AND installed paneling on the walls, and also MB super-insulated passenger van ceilings on the roof for extra insulation, and curtains on ALL back windows, and still the HVAC is a bad joke w/o the divider curtain I made from clear shower curtain material that snaps tightly in around the whole fuselage right behind the front seats. The van will swallow ANYTHING you want to put in it (13ft behind the front seats, and you can carry 16ft lumber down-the-center if you want), I've kept my van garaged or in a car port, but those kept outside tend to rust on the top because of poor paintwork. I bought mine in arctic white to prolong the paint life (dark colors self-destruct in direct sunlight), and it still looks almost new. If you owned and drove air cooled VW Microbuses for many years like I did, this van will feel like the "old days" despite the van is a water cooled diesel up front. It sounds, feels, and handles about the same, though a bit better in cross-winds. It's MUCH faster, and gives better MPG, of course. Strangely, the engine has no oil pressure gauge or light, but only an oil low-quantity light, so theoretically an oil pressure problem could destroy the $12,000 engine without the slightest warning, which I find odd, but I spoke with FedEx fleet operators, and none said they ever had an engine failure, so maybe it's a moot point. FedEx gets about 140,000 out of the 5 spd auto transmissions, but they are not babied. I am hoping babying mine will better that figure. UPDATE 11/20 Since the last review, my original tires still had about 1/2 tread left (projecting life 120,000+ miles), but they were showing age cracks, and I was scheduled to make a few 3000mi round trips, so elected to purchase new tires. I LOVED the OEM Michelin LTX but I didn't want to spend that much money, so bought a set of Westlake SL309 Traction Radial Tire - 225/75R16 115Q from Amazon at $74 each. So far the ride and handle great and are quiet. I was tired of the harsh ride the front of the vehicle always gave, and though the front struts still felt like day one, I splurged on a set of Bilsteins and they ride a LOT less harshly even though the removed OEM struts were not at all showing signs of decline. Really nothing else to report-the van is still the most versatile vehicle I own. ONE thing- the OEM paint on panel edges, and around exterior roof spot welds was showing pinpoints of rust because the edges were sharp enough the paint was applied thin on them (the paint likely pulled back from those sharp edges), so after a thorough cleaning, I retouched each spot with some matching enamel to prevent future rust. Still the paint is perfect elsewhere and after a wash and polish the vehicle still looks new (except for a few repaired stone dings in the windshield).
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Good worker
Mr. Rodney Long, 08/29/2010
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 High Roof 158 WB 3dr Ext Van (2.7L 5cyl Turbodiesel 5A)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
I often overload my van- 3,700 to 4,300 is not uncommon- and I still drive 3 mph over the speed limit. It has never dropped below 5 mph of the set cruise on any hill. I abuse it by letting it idle for 10 to 38 hours at a time in all kinds of weather. With all this I have only had to replace a cam sensor. I use this van to move expedited freight and drive as much as 1,700 miles in one sitting. I get 25.5 mpg with a 4200 lbs load in the back on the east coast from MI to GA. The only complaint I have is the steering while will not tilt and the heater doesn't work well when it very cold out, unless you cover some of the radiator air intake. I couldn't imagine doing my job with out it. I am spoiled
2004 Sprinter in a world of 2019’s
Astroplane, 06/10/2019
2004 Dodge Sprinter 2500 140 WB 3dr Ext Van (2.7L 5cyl Turbodiesel 5A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
It’s 2019 and still driving the Sprinter daily. The van has ultimately been very reliable and averages 22-24 mpg city with 3/4 ton cargo bolted to floor. I know several of these vans that have exceeded a million miles. Using the proper spec’d fluids at the proper intervals is key to longevity. Due to the low production numbers and high cost of this year van (diesel), very few mechanics have ever worked on one much less understand this vehicle.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
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