2003 Freightliner Business Class Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Freightliner Business Class, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine233.3%
- Tires & wheels233.3%
- Body & structure116.7%
- Fuel system116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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 .
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .