RoadVitals

2003 Freightliner Columbia Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

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.
10
Latest Jun 1, 2011
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Freightliner Columbia, 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

  • Engine660.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Exterior lighting110.0%
  • Tires & wheels110.0%
  • Transmission110.0%

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.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

EXHAUST FUMES COMING INTO CAB, CAUSING DIZZINESS, BURNING EYES, AND STUFFY AND BURNING SENSATION IN NOSE AND ON SKIN. I HAVE HAD ALL EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AND GASKETS REPLACED AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY WENT TO THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING I COULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT OTHER DRIVERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. THE TRUCK THAT I OWN AND DRIVE IS A FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA WITH SERIES 60 DETROIT ENGINE. I AM GOING TO TAKE A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR ALONG ON MY NEXT TRIP TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID 10226335 · filed Apr 30, 2008

WHILE DRIVING CAN SMELL EXHAUST FUMES FUMES COMING INTO CAB THROUGH AIR VENTS,WIFE GETTING ILL AN BURNING EYES, HARD TO BREATH,HEADACHES,TIRED ALL THE TIME, ALSO OTHER DRIVER GETTING ILL, ONLY BEEN IN THIS FREIGHTLINER 2 MONTHS, WITH DETROIT. AFTER 10 TO 12 HRS OF SLEEPING, IT ONLY TAKES ABOUT 4 HRS BEHIND THE WHEEL START GETTING TIRED AGAIN, SOMETHINGS NOT RIGHT, THIS ISN'T SAFE, HOW COME DRIVERS AREN'T BEING TOLD ABOUT THIS. *NM

NHTSA ID 10172048 · filed Oct 28, 2006

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THERE ARE NO HAND HOLDS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR TO AID IN ENTERING OR EXITING THE TRUCK. I WAS INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE TO PROVIDE HANDHOLDS WHEN I SLIPPED OF THE TOP STEP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I HAVE UNDER GONE SURGERY ON MY LEFT KNEE FROM WHICH I HAVE NOT RECOVERED, AND WILL IN THE NEAR FUTURE UNDERGO SURGERY ON MY RIGHT ELBOW AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE TO PROVIDE A SAFE WAY TO ENTER OR EXIT THE TRUCK. THERE ARE NO FMCSA REGULATIONS IN REGARDS TO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10209257 · filed Nov 18, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A GROUP OF 40 FREIGHTLINER TRACTORS IN OCTOBER 2002. TRACTORS WERE BUILT WITH AN H7 LOW BEAM HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE SINCE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THIS STYLE HEADLAMP AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN BOTH HEADLAMPS BURNED OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVER WAS OPERATIONG VEHICLE IN DARKNESS. ALL DATA ON THIS LAMP THAT I CAN FIND, SHOWS A SERVICE LIFE IN THE 200 HOUR RANGE. MOST STANDARD HEADLAMPS ARE RATED FOR 1000+ HOURS. MOST USA APPLICATIONS FOR THIS H7 BULB ARE FOR THE FOG LAMP POSITION, NOT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT. TRUCKS BUILT AFTER THIS GROUP HAVE BEEN FITTED WITH A DIFFERENT 9007 HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WHICH WORKS JUST FINE. FREIGHTLINER REFUSES TO DISCUSS THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THIS DESIGN. DRIVERS ARE NOW VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OPERATING VEHICLES AFTER DARK.*AK

NHTSA ID 10028725 · filed Jul 21, 2003

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2005 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL, UNIT 1 AND 2 WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE, WHEN UNIT 1 RIGHT SIDE TRAILER TIRE BLEW CAUSING TIRE DEBRIS TO STRIKE UNIT 2. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT# 10-0163-89)*JB

NHTSA ID 10404851 · filed Jun 1, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND LOCKED IN THE GEAR IT WAS IN. *JB

NHTSA ID 10011381 · filed Mar 11, 2003

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

Data on this page last refreshed .