2003 Freightliner FS-65 School Bus Chassis

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Diesel05V205000
Filed Apr 27, 200516,000 vehiclesFreightliner Llc

Defect. CERTAIN 1998-2003 MY FREIGHTLINER FS-65 SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS AND MB-45, MB-55, AND XB SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS, AND THOMAS BUILT BUS: MVP-ER AND MVP-EF SCHOOL BUS AND NON-SCHOOL BUS MODELS EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES AND EQUIPPED WITH FEDERAL-MOGAL 12 AND 24 VOLT FUEL LIFT PUMPS. THE FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL TO TRANSFER FUEL APPROPRIATELY CREATING AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.

Risk. SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS OF FREIGHTLINER AND THOMAS BUILT AND REPLACE THE FUEL LIFT PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS.

Steering03V488000
Filed Dec 4, 2003130 vehiclesFreightliner Llc

Defect. ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUS, XC RV, AND SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1 AND JULY 18, 2003, INCORRECT AXLE STEERING STOP BOLTS WERE INSTALLED ON AAC FRONT AXLES. IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO TURN THE FRONT WHEELS IN EITHER DIRECTION UNTIL THE TIRES CONTACT OR DAMAGE OTHER STEERING COMPONENTS.

Risk. THE DRIVER CAN POSSIBLY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF THE TIRES CONTACT THE STEERING COMPONENTS WHILE THE BUS IS IN MOTION.

Remedy. FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2003. 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 503-745-5219.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body
Filed Sep 24, 2012190,014 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FREIGHTLINER FS-65 SCHOOL BUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A STATE INSPECTION THE INSPECTOR FOUND CRACKS ON THE CROSS MEMBER IN FRONT OF THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,014. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIRS WERE $ 1,180.02. UPDATED 05/06/13

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 27, 2005. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.