Total Complaints
7 filings
FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS · model year
2003 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS
7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003FREIGHTLINERBUSINESS CLASS carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 BUSINESS CLASS is structure:body:door with 1 filings, followed by tires:valve (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine:other fuel types:turbo/supercharger (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2003 BUSINESS CLASS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
7
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| TIRES:VALVE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recalls (1)
04V27200007/06/2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS BUILT WITH 8,000 OR 6,000 POUND FRONT AXLES AND FOUR-PIECE SPINDLE NUT SETS, PREMATURE FRONT ,WHEEL BEARING WEAR MAY BE CAUSED BY INCONSISTENT BEARING ENDPLAY ADJUSTMENT.
Recent Complaints
20150204CrashTIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS EQUIPPED WITH KELLY CHARGER HPT TIRES, SIZE 275/70R/24.5 (NA). THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TWO FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Mileage: 1,500,000
20130802FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FREIGHT LINER M2 BUSINESS CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, GASOLINE LEAKED FROM THE TRUCK AND ONTO THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE HIGHER PRESSURE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000....UPDATED 09/18//13 *BF
Mileage: 5,000
20100706ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BUSINESS CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR THE NHTSA RECALL, CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V418000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE EGR ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
20100622UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DAIMLER VANS, LLC SAFETY RECALL 2010-040002 CALLED FREIGHTLINER DEALER IN OAK CREEK, WI (TRUCK COUNTRY, INC.) THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION AND CANNOT DO THE REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE SAFETY RECALL. I TRIED CALLING DAIMLER AND LISTENED TO MUSIC ON HOLD FOR 40 MINUTES. I GOT NOWHERE WITH THEM! *TR
Mileage: 94,889
20070713ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
WHILE DRIVING 2003 FRIEGHTLINER SPRINTER ON TWO OCCASIONS WAS OVERCOME WITH NOXIOUS FUMES, RESULTING IN CARBON MONOXIDE POSIONING THAT REQURIED A EMERGENCY VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL. VAN HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AND CONTINUES TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMPANY VAN .
Mileage: 137,336
20050503TIRES:VALVE
CONTACT STATES: JULY 27,2004, HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE REAR TIRE ON THE VAN. THE MUD FLAP BLEW OFF AND THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO THE WHEEL WELL. TOOK VEHICLE TO BARNETTE TIRE SERVICE, AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BLOW OUT WAS DUE TO THE TIRE VALVE. NOW THERE HAS BEEN TIRE VALVE RECALL. *AK
20050502STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONTACT STATES: THAT DOOR BLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING. ELECTRIC DOOR FOR PASSENGERS FREIGHT LINER SPRINTER 2003. BRAUN CONVERSION FOR WHEELS CHAIRS. HAS ELECTRIC DOOR THAT HAS NO LATCH TO CLOSE AND THERE IS GAP IN THE DOOR,1/2 INCH. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DODGE DEALER THAT IT IS WAS THE CONVERSION PART FOR BRAUN THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. AND TO TAKE IT TO A PLACE THAT WORKS ON CONVERSIONS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WAITHER BODY SHOP 562-447-1256 FOR REPAIRS. REPAIR COST IS UNKNOWN, UNDERWRITTEN BY BRAUN CORPORATION. INCLUDES UPGRADE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. *TT *NM
Mileage: 10,319
Compare 2003FREIGHTLINERBUSINESS CLASS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
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EVDM connector plate separation
PE21006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
PE21002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Trolley bus circuit breaker fires
PE20014Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
PE20006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS have?▼
The 2003 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS has 7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS?▼
Yes, the 2003 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:VALVE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER.
Is the 2003 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.