2003 Freightliner Business Class M2 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Business Class M2 years
- Not enough data 10th of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2. That ranks 10th out of 28 Business Class M2 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 247,021 miles. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 1owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1 | 100% | 247,021 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2003 Freightliner Business Class M2 recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:axle assembly
Problem: Daimler trucks is recalling 28,764 my 2001 through 2008 fccc b2 and fs65 school bus chassis, fccc fb65 conventional buses, and sterling acterra, freightliner fln, and business class m2 heavy trucks, built from january 26, 2000, through march 24, 2008, manufactured with arvinmeritor or axle alliance company 6,000 through 8,000 pound front axles utilizing a four piece spindle-nut set. These axle assemblies may have been produced with a thin spindle nut which may lead to incorrect end play, cone spin, excessive heat, degradation of lubrication, wear of the spindle nut and bearing journal, oil contamination with metal shavings, and premature bearing failure.
Risk: Continued operation may lead to wheel separation and possibly a vehicle crash.
Fix: Daimler trucks will notify owners and will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on january 8, 2009. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
Service brakes, air:supply:check valve
Problem: Certain freightliner school bus chassis, heavy trucks, and thomas built school buses manufactured between july 2002 and july 3, 2007, equipped with bendix sr-7 spring brake control valves. The parker scv brass 90 degree single check valves (scv) which attach to the supply port of a bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valve can break apart. Pieces of the parker scv can become lodged inside the sr-7 spring brake modulating valve, potentially causing either leakage out of the sr-7 valve or preventing air from properly exhausting from the sr-7 valve. Also, due to a manufacturing defect in the internal rubber check valve inside the sr-7 spring brake modulating valves, the valves can become deformed and not seat properly.
Risk: These conditions could either result in leakage and cause a delay in the application of the spring brake without warning or possibly lead to unintended vehicle rollaway or brake drag which could result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or death.
Fix: Freightliner will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on january 11, 2008 to freightliner, sterling, and freightliner custom chassis owners; to thomas built bus owners on february 1, 2008. Owners can contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Problem: On certain trucks and fire trucks equipped with kys 4735-43782-02 engine cooling fans and built on caterpillar 3126, c7, mbe906, mbe926, or cummins isc engines, the steel fan insert on the cooling fans can crack.
Risk: This can result in fan breakage, resulting in vehicle damage or personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine cooling fan free of charge. The recall began on june 8, 2005. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Suspension:front:wheel bearing
Problem: 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.
Risk: If allowed to progress, the front wheel assembly may separate from the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
Fix: The dealers will replace the front axle oil seals and hub cap gaskets on both sides. The recall began september 7, 2004. Owners should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Power train:manual transmission
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with manual transmission, the tapered joint that attaches the shifter to the transmission may become loose making it difficult to put the transmission into gear.
Risk: If shift lever detachment occurs, tha ability ro accelerate ot maintain speed will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will re-secure the shift lever to the transmission using threadlock and re-torquing the fastening bolt. Owner notification began on may 21, 2004. Owners should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Front wheel separation (RQ07003) — opened Dec 5, 2007, closed Mar 26, 2008, led to recall 08V137000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Had to replace the seal on the axle twice in 6 months. While driving on the freeway the entire right wheel broke off and ran off the road causing an accident. My truck had to be towed and the wheel was recovered and the whole wheel assembly had to be replaced. The old parts disintegrated during the…
Other Freightliner Business Class M2 years
← 2002 Business Class M2 · 2004 Business Class M2 →
See all Freightliner Business Class M2 problems by year, every Freightliner model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2?
Owners most often report power train problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Business Class M2 model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.