RoadVitals

2003 Detroit Diesel Series 50

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
0
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Aug 25, 2005
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Detroit Diesel Series 50. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
05E050000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Aug 25, 2005
160 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50 ENGINES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 3, 2002, AND OCTOBER 10, 2004, FOR USE IN TRANSIT BUSES. DURING INSTALLATION, THE EMC WAS NOT CALIBRATED TO ACTIVATE THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OF THE BUS IN THE EVENT OF A TURBOCHARGER FAILURE.
The risk: SHOULD THE TURBOCHARGER FAIL, LUBRICATING OIL CAN ENTER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND WITHOUT THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR ACTIVATED, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.
The remedy: DETROIT DIESEL WILL NOTIFY THE OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 1-313-592-5791.
DETROIT DIESEL CORP.Manufacturer number 05C-3View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

08SO-1

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

DETROIT DIESEL: THIS IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATED LISTING OF ALL DETROIT DIESEL CORP. MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICES APPLICABLE TO POWER PROTECTION PLAN P-3 EXTENDED SERVICE COVERAGE SOLD 1/1/08-12/31/08 WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

054A

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

CAMPAIGN 05C-4A - DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION (DDC) HAS DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN 2003 THROUGH 2004 MODEL YEAR 275 BHP RATED SERIES 50 URBAN BUS ENGINES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTERS WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE FILTER. DETROIT DIESEL. *TT

01011901

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN - SERIES 50 2.5GM NOX EPA/CARB CERTIFIED ENGINES - 330 BHP (FILTER AND TURBOCHARGER). DETROIT DIESEL. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Detroit Diesel Series 50 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004010—
2003Viewing010—
2002010—
2001000—
2000000—
1999021—
1998011—
1997000—
1996000—
1995000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.