The 2008 draws 2.06 complaints per run and the 2009 1, a 2.1-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 75.9% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 94 complaints, typically at 8.1 years.
Dodge Sprinter years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 2008 | 66 | 32 | yes | |
| 2007 | 64 | 49 | yes | |
| 2004 | 36 | 27 | yes | |
| 2003 | 11 | 10 | yes |
Among the 5 Dodge Sprinter years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2008, 2004, 2007; the three worth hunting are 2009, 2003, 2007.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 5.2% | covered | |
| 1 year | 16.1% | covered | |
| 2 years | 24.1% | covered | |
| 3 years | 29.3% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 35.1% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 37.9% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 40.2% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 60.9% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 81% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 87.4% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 92.5% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 93.7% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 94.8% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 95.4% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 97.1% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 24.1% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 75.9% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 13% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Dodge Sprinter, the early trouble is Tires and Engine And Engine Cooling — reported at around 2.4 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Air Bags at 8.1 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 8.1 yrs | — | — | |
| Tires | 2.4 yrs | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3.4 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 3.2 yrs | — | 4 | |
| Structure | 3 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Power Train | 2.7 yrs | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3.3 yrs | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2.3 yrs | — | — |
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Dodge Sprinter reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.53 against 3.73 for the average car.
Which Sprinter years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2008, 2004, 2007. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2009, 2003, 2007. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Sprinter problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 8.1 years, followed by Tires.
Will the warranty cover Sprinter problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 24.1% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 13% of the complaints here.
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