Total Complaints
5 filings
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER · model year
2003 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
5 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, 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 FREIGHTLINER is steering with 1 filings, followed by tires (1) and unknown or other (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 35 investigation files overlapping the 2003 FREIGHTLINER. 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.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
Recalls (1)
05V20700027/04/2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CERTAIN MY 2000-2003 FREIGHTLINER, THOMAS MVP SCHOOL BUS AND WESTERN STARS TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 19, 2000, AND MARCH 30, 2005, AND EQUIPPED WITH WEBASTO COOLANT HEATERS, MODEL DBW 2010, ASSEMBLED WITH WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, P/N 303046/26533A. THE STAINLESS STEEL BURNER TUBE IS MADE O
Recent Complaints
20080522STEERING
WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET A DOT INSPECTION, WHICH IT PASSED BY WHEN THE COMPANY'S MECHANIC DID HIS INSPECTION FOR ME TO GO OVER THE ROAD WITH THEIR MATERIAL. HE FOUND A LIST OF FAULTS WITH THE TRUCK, I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE STATES HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUCK ANY MORE. *TR
Mileage: 426,260
20080522TIRES
WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET A DOT INSPECTION, WHICH IT PASSED BY WHEN THE COMPANY'S MECHANIC DID HIS INSPECTION FOR ME TO GO OVER THE ROAD WITH THEIR MATERIAL. HE FOUND A LIST OF FAULTS WITH THE TRUCK, I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE STATES HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUCK ANY MORE. *TR
Mileage: 426,260
20080522UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET A DOT INSPECTION, WHICH IT PASSED BY WHEN THE COMPANY'S MECHANIC DID HIS INSPECTION FOR ME TO GO OVER THE ROAD WITH THEIR MATERIAL. HE FOUND A LIST OF FAULTS WITH THE TRUCK, I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE STATES HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUCK ANY MORE. *TR
Mileage: 426,260
20080522EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET A DOT INSPECTION, WHICH IT PASSED BY WHEN THE COMPANY'S MECHANIC DID HIS INSPECTION FOR ME TO GO OVER THE ROAD WITH THEIR MATERIAL. HE FOUND A LIST OF FAULTS WITH THE TRUCK, I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE STATES HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUCK ANY MORE. *TR
Mileage: 426,260
20080522EQUIPMENT
WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET A DOT INSPECTION, WHICH IT PASSED BY WHEN THE COMPANY'S MECHANIC DID HIS INSPECTION FOR ME TO GO OVER THE ROAD WITH THEIR MATERIAL. HE FOUND A LIST OF FAULTS WITH THE TRUCK, I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE STATES HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUCK ANY MORE. *TR
Mileage: 426,260
Compare 2003FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE24032Preliminary EvaluationClosed
EVDM connector plate separation
PE21006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
PE20014Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
PE20006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
PE18004Preliminary EvaluationClosed
PNDB Electrical Power Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER have?▼
The 2003 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER?▼
Yes, the 2003 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER is STEERING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2003 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER 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.