AI Damage2004 Dodge Sprinter reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Dodge Sprinter filed 39 complaints in the US, most often about tires and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 39
What fails most often
- 1 Tires 26% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 21% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 8% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 5% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- Tires: 10 complaints (26% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 8 complaints (21% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (10% of all).
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (10% of all).
- Structure: 3 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 39 US owner complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of US owner complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by the regulator; personal data removed.
Upon completion of the t21 recall, the check engine light (error code u0423) came on. The instrument cluster light continued to illuminate after the vehicle's ignition was off, draining the battery.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 dodge sprinter. The contact stated that the vehicle consistently misfired. The dodge manufacturer included the vehicle in its t21 emissions recall for the engine control unit; however, the tools, an available technician, and the part was not available to schedule the repair appointment.
Four p225/75r15xl scorpion str tires purchased & installed 8-5-10 at evans tire &service center [address] san diego [ZIP] onto 2004 dodge sprinter 2500, mileage 28274. On 2-28-2015 mileage approx.43125mi.
The sliding door which is the only egress for passengers in the back of the van will not open. I have had it fixed 4 times and it continuously fails. I have talked to other sprinter owners and they have the same problem.
Driving at freeway speed the vehicle losses power and the speed decreases to about 40 mph. I can pull over and turn of the motor for about 10 seconds and start up and the vehicle will reset and run fine until it does it again randomly.
2004 dodge sprinter - the braking system stiffens up (power brake) if I push the pedal hard especially when I back up the vehicle. It's like the booster has frozen solid and the brake pedal can't travel all the way down. If I let the vehicle sit for a while (1 hr) it will get back to normal.
Within the first 3 months and 7,500 miles of date of purchase the vehicle began to show signs of premature rusting and leakage over the entire vehicle. I pursued remedy thru all authorized sprinter dealerships adhering to chrysler protocols and recommendations.
There is a safety recall id # 07v299000 - interior lighting on the make and model of my vehicle and my vehicle has the same symptoms yet is not part of the recall. Dodge has ordered the parts to be replaced and is charging $277.67. Please let me know how to correct this issue.
Trouble codes in complaints
OBD2 codes owners of this model year name directly in their complaints.
When owners complained
US owner complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,804 of 32,206 model years in the official US data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sprinter has 34 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 39, above average.
What to check before buying
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Dodge Sprinter?
US owner complaints most often mention: tires, engine and cooling, electrical system. Total complaints: 39. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (8%), loss of power / limp mode (5%), stalls while driving (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Dodge Sprinter?
The official US database lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2004 Dodge Sprinter from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2004 models
Read also
Sources: public official US data: service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by the regulator, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-10.