The 2003 Sprinter 3500 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 615 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
Consequence
THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy
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.
AIR BAGS03V0820002003-03-06281 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN VANS, A CAPACITOR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE AIR BAG CAN CRACK AND THE AIR BAG MAY NOT ACTIVATE AS DESIGNED. THIS CONDITION IS SIGNALED TO THE DRIVER BY THE SRS-WARNING LAMP.
Consequence
THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER INTERNATIONAL AT 1-704-655-1052.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS
1
TIRES
1
Total complaints2
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Passenger seat belt kept locking while van was moving and then would not retract at all. Driver side retracts but very slowly. *tr”
“2003 sprinter 3500 shc, unit 1 and unit 2 were westbound on the turnpike when a set of dual tires came off unit 1 and struck unit 2. Both units subsequently pull over on the north shoulder. *bf the left rear duals sheered off the hub. (ohio traffic crash report # 10-0062-89)*jb updated 03/29/11 *bf”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Sprinter 3500 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.