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2003 Freightliner Business Class M2
5 recall campaigns and 1 complaint are on NHTSA's register for the 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2; the recalls concern power train, service brakes, air and engine and engine cooling.
The component named most often is power train: 1,000 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 121 per 1,000 across all 2003 model-year vehicles and against 23.3 per 1,000 for the Freightliner Business Class M2 line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 1.3 complaints per model year across the 28 Freightliner Business Class M2 model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2010 (1); the most recent in the file is dated 1 May 2010.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 1 investigation naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 24 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: Continued operation may lead to wheel separation and possibly a vehicle crash.
Remedy: 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.
Filed by DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA (manufacturer campaign FL-527).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Filed by FREIGHTLINER LLC (manufacturer campaign FL-504).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: This can result in fan breakage, resulting in vehicle damage or personal injury.
Remedy: 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.
Filed by FREIGHTLINER LLC (manufacturer campaign FL-439).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: If allowed to progress, the front wheel assembly may separate from the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Filed by FREIGHTLINER LLC (manufacturer campaign FL-424).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: If shift lever detachment occurs, tha ability ro accelerate ot maintain speed will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Filed by FREIGHTLINER LLC (manufacturer campaign FL-420).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2 (black) against all 2003 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2003 | Business Class M2 line | All 2003 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1,000 | 23.3 | 121 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1 | 1,000 | 23.3 | 121 |
1 unique complaints, 1 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ07003 | Recall query | FRONT WHEEL SEPARATION | suspension:front:hub | 5 Dec 2007 | 26 Mar 2008 | 08V137000 |
Other Freightliner Business Class M2 model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 2,000 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 32,332 |
| 2002 | 5 | 0 | 57,334 |
| 2003 | 5 | 1 | 130,934 |
| 2004 | 9 | 8 | 226,427 |
| 2005 | 9 | 7 | 278,033 |
| 2006 | 13 | 7 | 479,138 |
| 2007 | 17 | 4 | 483,189 |
| 2008 | 14 | 1 | 414,846 |
| 2009 | 8 | 2 | 183,934 |
| 2010 | 10 | 0 | 186,460 |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | 181,324 |
| 2012 | 12 | 1 | 186,903 |
| 2013 | 11 | 0 | 180,414 |
| 2014 | 10 | 0 | 113,563 |
| 2015 | 14 | 3 | 88,779 |
| 2016 | 16 | 1 | 97,176 |
| 2017 | 15 | 1 | 101,514 |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 | 162,805 |
| 2019 | 23 | 0 | 167,991 |
| 2020 | 12 | 0 | 331,174 |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 | 348,951 |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | 276,517 |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | 41,112 |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | 36,958 |
| 2025 | 11 | 0 | 43,579 |
| 2026 | 5 | 0 | 44,772 |
| 2027 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 23,276 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Freightliner Business Class M2 model years · Freightliner: 77 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2 have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 08V137000, was reported to NHTSA on 25 Mar 2008 and concerns power train:axle assembly. Across all model years the Freightliner Business Class M2 line has 111 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 1 action naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2003 Freightliner Business Class M2 complain about most?
Power Train: 1 of 1 component mentions (1,000 per 1,000). Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 24 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 24 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.