Complaints about the 2003 Freightliner Columbia peaked in 2003, with 5 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Heavy truck, diesel, 6x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Mar 11, 2003 to Jun 1, 2011.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17V-810 | Dec 15, 2017 | These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the… | Equipment | 24,860 | Part replacement |
| 07V-302 | Jul 16, 2007 | Certain freightliner school bus chassis, heavy trucks, and thomas built school buses manufactured between july 2002 and july 3, 2007, equipped… | Brakes | 75,000 | Repair or modification |
| 05V-001 | Jan 3, 2005 | On certain trucks equipped with seats built by gra-mag, the seat pivot bolts can loosen and possibly fracture or dislodge, causing the seat back… | Seats | 1,770 | Repair or modification |
| 04V-205 | May 4, 2004 | On certain trucks equipped with manual transmission, the tapered joint that attaches the shifter to the transmission may become loose making it… | Powertrain | 14,000 | Repair or modification |
| 03V-500 | Dec 4, 2003 | On certain trucks equipped with air brakes, the plastic push-to-connect air line fitting cartridge could be improperly welded into the nylon… | Brakes | 400 | Repair or modification |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
10 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
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 complaint 10404851EXHAUST 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 complaint 10226335THERE 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 complaint 10209257WHILE 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 complaint 10172048DT: 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
NHTSA complaint 10120286WHILE 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
NHTSA complaint 10047752FUMES COMING INTO CAB, 2003,FREIGHTLINER,COLUMBIA,RELATED EGR VALVE LEAKING ENTS FROM DASH. *AK
NHTSA complaint 10043867CONSUMER 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
NHTSA complaint 10033748WE 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 complaint 10028725THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND LOCKED IN THE GEAR IT WAS IN. *JB
NHTSA complaint 10011381Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.