Used 2008 Dodge Sprinter Consumer Reviews

Service on Mercedes diesel turbo 5

Terrible availability of service. Not all Dodge dealers work on Sprinters. Mercedes won't touch them. Had no service for blown resonator on turbo in N. CA. Towed Yreka 100 mi to Redding. No service Mercedes or Dodge. Drove 200+ mi to Sacramento @ 45mph. Few dealers work on this engine. Everyone passes buck on engine. Unless Dodge or Mercedes picks up responsibility on engine would not buy again. Have RV. 16 mpg. Nice, but if you are stuck in Palucaville and need service you are out of luck. Freight-liner wouldn't work on RV either since Dodge will not give them any warranty work.

Maintenance nightmare

I have 2 sprinters. Both are 1 ton 3.0 diesels. I have same continuous problem with both van's. If you even think about driving on gravel road and it's wet, brake wear sensor wires are broken, making dash light come on. Every 35,000 almost to the mile, one of the carrier bearings (there are two and they are identical) will go out. 219 bucks for the bearing plus install. Finally found some brake pads that would wear longer than 25,000 miles. Dealer only at first, 125 bucks a set of pads. Now, torque converter is bad on both. One has 90,000 on it, the other 120,000. After doing some more checking, this seems to be a widespread problem. This fix is over 2 thousand. I can't keep up.

DO NOT BUY!!!

I run a fleet of 6 sprinters. I have 2- 2004 models and had relative success with them. We service high end appliances and the exterior design and styling definitely appealed to us. We then bought 4 2007 model and have regretted that decision ever since. We have made repair after repair on all of the new vans. It honestly seems like the improvements involved just TOO MUCH technology. TOO Many Sensors and TOO many complicated electronics. Our maintenance bills on these 5 vans have gotten to the point where we just want to unload all of them. I wouldnt recommend the newer generations Sprinters to my worst enemy.

The real scoop on a Sprinter passenger van

The van is a 144 passenger low roof 2500 3.0 diesel. These Van's are superior to anything built in terms of quality, safety, reliability, longevity and functionality. They lack for traction in snow or mud unless you go 4wd or have a load. The engines and transmissions are long lived. 500,000 to 600,000 miles is reasonable to expect from this quality of a Mercedes product. Buying used in the 140,000 mile range is the best dollar per mile value. There is a real advantage to units with the Assyst diagnostic package, so buy a unit with the steering wheel controls if you can! My oil change intervals with 70% highway miles have been 15,000 (Mobil 1 always). My 07 is at 442,000 miles and and has been through a starter and power steering pump, alternator, recent in tank fuel pump, glow plug controller, replaced the transmission conductor plate myself and the full drive shaft. Torque converter is still original but grabs 2nd hard on light deceleration at times. I trick it out of limp mode with an MD 808 in DPF regen mode. . The engine is as good as when it was new with oil consumption 1 qt per 15k (same as new). My 04 had 240,000 upon trade in and my 08 has 342,000- all 3 solid with only starter, alternator or water pump replacements. My average fuel economy is 20-21mpg (23 on the '04) with ton and a half+ loads. Dealers charge double for parts so do the work yourself using good quality parts and spare no cost to use the proper fluids. Check forums for information. Use a dealer to do transmission services at between 50k to 100k. I have not personally known a transmission to go bad in these units. The transmission filters are so good they will start to plug up and seem that there is transmission trouble. Just service the trans and tell any pessimistic mechanic you will see them for the next service, and the next... Visibility is the best. Acceleration will surprise you. The engines are turned down at the factory and they still perform well unchipped. I have hours of ideling per trip to keep produce warm in winter without much affect adversely on the motor over these many miles. The 350000 mile range is when you pour money into these, but they are worth the cost of repair if you are doing the work yourself.

Cargo to toyhauler fun

I did a lot of research before getting my 08 2500 144. It's a basic unit & that is what I wanted. In the last 6 mths I have put 0ver 22k miles on the truck. No issues. The dealership crashed the truck & didn't tell me when I bought it. It seems to run fine & I keep my fingers crossed. My mpg are 21-23 on the open road & 21 in town. If you use the turbo then mpg drop big time. so take it easy & save $. In traffic handling is great. It will tow at freeway speeds but that was my lowest 17 mpg. The truck is quieter than other vans. Brakes are good in rain & in dangerous events. Lay out of inst. on dash are very user friendly. Radio is ok. Steering is solid & no real over steering.

2008 144 wb high roof Passenger Sprinter

We extensively researched the vehicles available to convert to a handicap accessible vehicle to transport our fifteen year old son who uses a wheelchair. After reviewing all possible alternatives, we chose the Dodge 144 wb high roof passenger model Sprinter, which we had modified at CMI in Grove City, Ohio. We chose this Sprinter for its fuel economy, build quality, safety features, maneuverability, and the conversion options available. We removed all seats, and added three swiveling captains chairs, a folding bench seat, a rear under seat heater, additional insulation, and a Braun Vangater lift. Now we have a long term solution to transporting and taking care of our son's needs.

BIG mistake

Great concept, terribly unreliable. Passenger seats too small and uncomfortable. Engine stalls whenever, transmission shifts into top gear at 25Mph. Have to pull over and restart. Dealer will not fix or even try. Head light bulbs go out every 30 days. Sliding door never fits right.Backup horn replaced, ignition failed at 14000 miles, dealer replaced but damaged engine cradle with forklift, never replaced??!!

It's a bird, it's a race horse, no, it's Super Van

This van is a thinly disguised Mercedes. Really. You can get service at a Dodge dealer, same at Mercedes. Spare tire is located poorly if you are handicapped. Be ready for dealers trying to get you to sell yours. Mine has options like a front seats that allows standing and walking to the rear, rear area tie downs and cargo holds, twin batteries, 12 volt outlets all over. Use the electronic key to unlock and forget, the van relocks in a minute. Extra long, tall enough that I can stand in (at 6'5" tall), rear doors each with multi-position open states, and nice wide sliding side door (curb-side).

Best purchase

Great van for traveling back and forth to our Southwest Florida home and back to New Hampshire.

Total Lemmon

I work for a company that has/had (unloading these POSes) a fleet of these vehicles 2007-2009 with an average mileage of 275k. They are all P.O.S. Constantly breaking down with transmission, trans-axal, and drive train problems even with regular maintenance, along with little stuff like the door locks braking and door hinges seizing up. Moisture builds up under the plastic body panels and rust away the body. Computer keeps putting the engine into "Limp mode", these things are mechanics dream. They are all having problems one way or another. Don't buy unless you like to work on an overly complicated cargo van or like to pay out the 'A' for someone else to fix!

A Perfect Van for Handicapped Use

Peripheral vision is excellent. Seats 10. Fuel mileage unbelievable 28mpg. Sufficient low end torque. Drives exceptionally well on highway for what it is. We installed rear lift for handicapped sister and removed the 2 seat row and moved the rear set of 3 seats up. Can transport sister and 8 additional passengers. Side door first step is a little high for elderly and children, but overall an excellent vehicle. We researched all possible vans prior to purchase. This was the only reasonable option. I am 6'1" and can stand up straight inside. We had extreme difficulty finding a diesel with rear a/c. We drove 400 miles to Myrtle Beach to pick this van up. We are completely satisfied.

Reliability not an option

Thought carefully before purchase about reliability, service availabilty, fuel mileage, upkeep costs. Vehicle arrived broken. Developed a serious power steering leak and had to be towed the same day to nearest dealer, 2 hours away (not local as advertised). Then EGR valve failed, intermittant Check engine light and no power). Drivers wiper seriously out of align, bad noises. Plastic trim items poorly fastened and repeatedly fell off. Dlr attempted to reinstall. Frt tires chewed off at 10K miles, align not done at factory? Lts began to fail, headlight, parking, tail, signal (all very cheaply made bulbs I suppose). Several parts have fallen off. Ok truck if you like coffee at the dealers loung

2007 diesel Sprinter

Diesel engine (silky smooth and quiet) and Interior room are the best. I could not get better than 19MPG combined. Still counting all the things I can use it for. Brought side by side refridgerator home one day, upright. Remodeled home. Moved. Take children to school, and drive to work everyday. Easy on fuel. Still turns heads in parking lots. Had been to all my bank's drive throughs. Negatives: passenger seats do not recline, not very comfy. 11000 miles had been to the shop once for front rotors and backup horn failed. Also $175 oil change. I still love it and hope it lasts for 30 years.

Happy works Great

If Vehicle is driven Normally it is trouble free .

Owner-operator

I bought my Sprinter 2007 new 2500 v/6 diesel in may 2007. My average mileage is around 18. It started off about 16 1/2. That's in town and on the highway.

If you Venture, then do it in a Sprinter