- The problem
- On certain school buses and truck model vehicles manufactured between february 28, 1999, through april 5, 2004, the anti-lock brake system electronic control unit (ecu) may misinterpret a corrupt wheel speed signal.
- The risk
- The corrupt wheel speed signals may improperly activate the abs, instead of deactivating the abs. This may result in the driver experiencing a hard pedal feel and a decrease in deceleration at the end of the stop, resulting in extended stopping distances which could cause a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in property damage, personal injury, or death.
- The fix
- International will notify its customers and inspect and repair the affected vehicles free of charge. The recall began august 1, 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 international customer service at 1-800-327-4236.
Vehicle safety record
2003 International FE Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2003 International FE have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in June 2004 for the wheel speed sensor.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical FE year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2003 International FE recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- On certain school, transit, and commercial buses equipped with adjustable steering columns, the steering shaft pinch bolt interferes with the rubber boot that protects it. Over time, a hole may wear into the boot and catch the bolt.
- The risk
- If the bolt catches on the hole, the boot may restrict the movement of the steering wheel which could result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- International notify its customers and inspect and, if necessary, repair the steering column. Owner notification began november 19, 2003. Owners should contact international at 1-800-448-7825.
- The problem
- On certain school and transit buses built with bosch zero offset pin slide (zops) hydraulic disc brakes, the zops hydraulic disc brakes may experience calipers sticking in the applied position, which can result in excessive or abnormal heat generation at one or more of the brakes.
- The risk
- The combination of the following factors may collectively result in an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety: potential fire at a wheel end, high incident rates of stuck calipers, and evacuation and containment concerns relating to multiple passengers.
- The fix
- International will notify its customers and repair the buses free of charge. The recall began october 29, 2004.
What owners say
Be the first FE owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
No complaints about the 2003 International FE yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
International FE: every year compared
All FE years2003 International FE vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 International FE | 0 | 3 | C | |
| 2003 International 4300 | 8 | 4 | D | Compare |
| 2003 International 4400 | 4 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2003 International 4000 | 1 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2003 International 1552 | 1 | 1 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2003 International FE
Does the 2003 International FE have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2003 International FE: wheel speed sensor (June 2004); steering (July 2003); disc (February 2003). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2003 International FE had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2003 International FE a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical International FE year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 2003 International FE has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data