RecallMyCar

2003 Freightliner FS-65 School Bus Chassis Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2003 Freightliner FS-65 School Bus Chassis, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA

2 safety recalls for the 2003 Freightliner FS-65 School Bus Chassis

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Fuel system, diesel

    NHTSA 05V205000 Reported 16,000 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER LLC

    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…

    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.

  2. Steering

    NHTSA 03V488000 Reported 130 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER LLC

    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.

    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…

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Freightliner FS-65 School Bus Chassis have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 190,014 miles. Complaints peaked in 2012 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 24, 2012 · Structure

Checking a specific 2003 Freightliner FS-65 School Bus Chassis

How do I know if my 2003 Freightliner FS-65 School Bus Chassis has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2003 Freightliner FS-65 School Bus Chassis; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Freightliner dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V488000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Freightliner models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.