Freightliner Columbia 2003

Model Columbia made in 2003 by Freightliner got 11 consumer complains, 3 investigations there are 4 recalls as well as 5 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to engine and engine cooling, exterior lighting and power train. Technical service bulletines regarding exterior lighting, (pws) and steering. The car had one investigation (engine and engine cooling). There were some recalls concerningpower train, seats and service brakes, air.

Model 2003

Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
04V205000FREIGHTLINER LLCfrom 10/17/2003 V (Vehicle)1400005/21/2004MFRFREIGHTLINER LLC05/04/200405/07/2004
Defect SummaryOn 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.
Consequence SummaryIf shift lever detachment occurs, tha ability ro accelerate ot maintain speed will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective SummaryDealers 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.
NotesFreightliner recall no. fl-420.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration
SEATS
05V001000FREIGHTLINER LLCfrom 08/01/2002 to 09/30/2004V (Vehicle)177004/20/2005MFRFREIGHTLINER LLC01/03/200501/03/2005
Defect SummaryOn certain trucks equipped with seats built by gra-mag, the seat pivot bolts can loosen and possibly fracture or dislodge, causing the seat back to fail to provide full support to the driver's back.
Consequence SummaryA possible vehicle crash could occur should the seat fall backwards during use.
Corrective SummaryDealers will repair these vehicles. the recall began on april 20, 2005. owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
NotesFreightliner recall no. fl-438.customers may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
03V500000FREIGHTLINER LLCfrom 09/08/2003 to 09/25/2003V (Vehicle)40001/26/2004MFRFREIGHTLINER LLC12/04/200312/15/2003
Defect SummaryOn certain trucks equipped with air brakes, the plastic push-to-connect air line fitting cartridge could be improperly welded into the nylon junction block housing allowing an air line to become disconnected.
Consequence SummaryThis could lead to reduced brake control, loss of service brake control, or the emergency brakes automatically applying, possibly resulting in a crash without prior warning.
Corrective SummaryDealers will install a new cab air manifold. owner notification is expected to begin on january 21, 2004. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 800-547-0712.
NotesFreightliner recall no. fl-418.customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - SUPPLY - CHECK VALVE
07V302000FREIGHTLINER LLCfrom 07/01/2002 to 07/03/2007V (Vehicle)7500001/11/2008MFRFREIGHTLINER LLC07/16/200707/16/2007
Defect SummaryCertain 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.
Consequence SummaryThese 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.
Corrective SummaryFreightliner 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.
NotesFreightliner recall no. fl-504.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TURN SIGNAL
TSB-54-23707/01/200910029425Freightliner: a new bulb socket is available for turn/park lights that is metalized to withstand high heat without out gassing. model years unknown. models columbia, business class m2 and cascadia. *pe07/08/2009
(PWS)
SB42-6812/01/201210049539Freightliner: brake s-cam tube lubrication interval change. to ensure optimum service life and trouble-free operation, the recommended maintenance interval for lubricating meritor s-cam brake tubes on century class, columbia, cascadia and c01/16/2013
STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
SB-46-4710/01/200910031824Freightliner truck: inner tie rod inspection and repair, rack and pinion gear. increased length of the driver side inner tie rod (if the inner tie rod unthreads from the rack) may cause abnormal steer tire wear due to high toe in or an in01/13/2010
STEERING - RACK AND PINION
SB-46-4710/01/200910031824Freightliner truck: inner tie rod inspection and repair, rack and pinion gear. increased length of the driver side inner tie rod (if the inner tie rod unthreads from the rack) may cause abnormal steer tire wear due to high toe in or an in01/13/2010
STRUCTURE - BODY
883305/01/2006883310020435Bug screen reinforcement on century class conventional and the columbia. the clips on the bug reinforcement may cause abrasions to the screen material. freightliner. *kb10/04/2006

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
PE04036FREIGHTLINER LLC04/12/200412/06/2004DIESEL EXHAUST GAS INTRUSION
 The preliminary evaluation was opened based on 3 complaints from drivers of 2003 model year (my) freightliner columbia truck tractors and on information provided by freightliner indicating a known problem of exhaust leaks in certain detroit diesel series-60 engines equipped with a
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
PE04036FREIGHTLINER LLC04/12/200412/06/2004DIESEL EXHAUST GAS INTRUSION
 The preliminary evaluation was opened based on 3 complaints from drivers of 2003 model year (my) freightliner columbia truck tractors and on information provided by freightliner indicating a known problem of exhaust leaks in certain detroit diesel series-60 engines equipped with a
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
PE04036FREIGHTLINER LLC04/12/200412/06/2004DIESEL EXHAUST GAS INTRUSION
 The preliminary evaluation was opened based on 3 complaints from drivers of 2003 model year (my) freightliner columbia truck tractors and on information provided by freightliner indicating a known problem of exhaust leaks in certain detroit diesel series-60 engines equipped with a

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
07/06/20031
 Consumer states that while driving at any speed and with no warning vehicle will shut off, causing consumer to pull over. it will be hard to get the vehicle back started.dealer notified.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
03/28/20081
 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
07/01/2003106/03/2003
 Dt: fumes coming inside equipment through air vents of truck. the truck was taken to the dealer 3-4 different times and the problem was never fixed. these fumes caused headaches, nausea,burning eyes, and high blood pressure. now, diagnosed with copd. have talked to other drivers and same problems have occurred.*ak the vehicle was parked because the consumer felt it was unsafe to drive. *nm
08/12/20031
 While driving the truck, the consumer would smell a rotten egg odor coming from the ventilation system. the owner has made contact with the dealership on five separate occasions and the problem still occurs. please provide any additional information. *ph
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
10/28/2006633461108/23/2006
 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
10/28/200330000306/07/2003
 Fumes coming into cab, 2003,freightliner,columbia,related egr valve leaking ents from dash. *ak
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - FOG LIGHTS
01/18/2003421363012/01/2002
 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
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS
01/18/2003421363012/01/2002
 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
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1
 The vehicle lost power, and locked in the gear it was in. *jb
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
08/01/2007100
 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
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - SUPPORT DEVICE
08/01/2007100
 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

Car dealers selling


StateCityZipNamePhone
ININDIANAPOLIS46217STOOPS877-385-8733
ININDIANAPOLISSTOOPS FREIGHLINER
WIOAK CREEK53154TRUCK COUNTRY8002366061