Ann arbor transit purchased 19 new 2003 gillig (800.735.1500) low floor 40'&35' transit buses, delivered october 2003. Immediately, ann arbor transit experienced both front exterior turn signal failures affecting all 19 new buses. The failures include burnt out bulbs, loose bulb socket metal contacts, lamp socket wiring harness falling off. Ann arbor transit has filed over forty warranty claims within the one year period only to be rejected. Ann arbor transit has spoken to gillig's service manager only to be told that we are the only customers with this problem. Gillig has supplied a new wiring harness to consider, but the new harness was rejected because it was identical to the existing. Gillig claims to be willing to help, but does nothing. Currently, all 19 buses should be considered a safety hazard due to the very unreliable front turn signal performance. Ann arbor transit operates about 90 large buses daily and is expected to provide safe, reliable, clean buses to all of our 4 million yearly customers, please help!
The worst 2003 Gillig Low Floor problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Lights1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights1
Recalls 9
Exterior lighting: turn signal: flasher unit
- What is wrong
- Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2001-2018 Gillig Low Floor transit buses. The turn signals may flash slowly, reducing their visibility to other drivers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- The reduced visibility of the turn signals can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will update the software that controls the turn flash rate, free of charge. The recall began on August 2, 2018. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1‑510‑264‑5073 or 1‑800‑735‑1500.
Recall number 18V418000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: turn signal
- What is wrong
- Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain model year 1997-2017 Low Floor transit buses. The front turn signals installed on standard profile (non-BRT) buses may not be sufficiently visible to other drivers or pedestrians. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- The reduced visibility of the turn signals may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will install turn signals that have increased visibility. The recall began June 7, 2019. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1‑510‑264‑5073 or 1‑800‑735‑1500.
Recall number 17V119000 · Recall details
Interior lighting
- What is wrong
- Gillig corporation is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2009 transit buses manufactured between january 2001 and september 2009 equipped with luminator horizon LED side destination signs. The connector board can corrode due to an accumulation of moisture under the connector.
- Risk
- A short could occur, possibly causing smoke and fire.
- Remedy
- Gillig will notify owners and luminator will repair the buses free of charge. The safety recall began on spetember 29, 2009. Owners may contact luminator at 1‑972‑516‑3033 or gillig field services at 1‑800‑735‑1500.
Recall number 09V368000 · Recall details
Fuel system, diesel
- What is wrong
- On certain transit buses built with cummins isl and isc diesel engines equipped with the cm850 fuel system, the engine high pressure fuel lines, from the engine high pressure pump to the engine fuel rail, are prone to failure.
- Risk
- Failure of the line introduces high pressure fuel spray into the engine compartment which can ignite when it comes in contact with a hot surface.
- Remedy
- Cummins will install a fuel line bracket to reduce fuel line stress. A new fuel line will be installed when adding the bracket (please see 06e037). Gillig notified customers on november 22, 2006. Customers may contact cummins at 1‑800‑343‑7357 or gillig at 510‑264‑5031.
Recall number 06V427000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
- What is wrong
- On certain transit buses manufactured with detroit diesel series 50 engines, the electronic control module (ECM) will need to be reprogrammed to activate the exhaust temperature sensor.
- Risk
- Engine malfunction could possible lead to engine and vehicle damage and potential for a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Gillig is working with detroit diesel to reprogram the engines. Gillig issued a renotification letter to owners on february 27, 2007. Owners may contact detroit diesel at 1‑313‑592‑5791 or gillig at 1‑510‑785‑1500.
Recall number 05V473000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- Certain gillig buses equipped with sure-lok wheelchair tie-down securement assemblies. The sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly may be out of alignment causing the load pawl not to fully seat in the sprocket teeth.
- Risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. The recall began october 8, 2004. Owners should contact gillig at 1‑800‑735‑1500..
Recall number 04V500000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
- What is wrong
- On certain phantom and low floor transit buses equipped with cummins 8.3l and 8.9l isc and isl diesel engines, oil can leak into the engine compartment from a crack in the cup plug.
- Risk
- Oil leakage on a hot engine can result in an engine compartment fire, possibly resulting in injuries.
- Remedy
- Cummins will conduct the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Cummins will isntall a steel cup plug boss cap on the affected engines. Owners should contact cummins customer assistance center at 1‑800‑343‑7357 or gillig at 510‑785‑1500.
Recall number 04V485000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: other fuel types: turbo/supercharger
- What is wrong
- On certain transit buses equipped with detroit diesel series 40 engines, the turbocharger can fail allowing lubricating oil to spill onto the engine.
- Risk
- This can result in a fire in the engine compartment.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the turbocharger to prevent the possibility of an engine compartment fire. Detroit diesel is conducting owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Gillig issued a renotification letter to owners on february 27, 2007. Owners should contact detroit detroit diesel at 313-5923708 or gillig at 510‑785‑1500.
Recall number 04V486000 · Recall details
Fuel system, other
- What is wrong
- Certain low floor buses powered by a gaseous hydrogen fuel system. These transducers were made of 17-4 ph stainless steel material which may be susceptible to embrittlement in a high-pressure hydrogen application environment.
- Risk
- Embrittlement could potentially lead to a transducer diaphragm failure.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the transducer. The recall began july 12, 2004. Owners should contact gillig at 1‑510‑785‑1500.
Recall number 04V308000 · Recall details
See all 9 recalls for the 2003 Gillig Low Floor
Defect investigations
Power cable grounding
In late october 2002, gillig corporation released a field service bulletin advising owners that a protruding bolt on the air conditioning unit (A/C) could make contact with an uninsulated power cable end and possibly cause a fire.the remedy was to remove the excess length from the A/C bolt.as a result of the agency's investigation into this matter, gillig corporation has agreed to conduct a safety recall and notify allowners of the affected vehicles. Based on the manufacturer's safety recall action (03v‑055), this investigation is closed.further use of the agency's resources are unwarranted at this time.
PE03007
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Gillig Low Floor 14
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Because of a supply issue with the blue hose covering, Eaton is temporarily making FC-300 hose using black...
- A procedure to properly adjust the draglink so the socket won't over articulate, causing increased wear.
- It was found that an earlier Bulletin spec'd bolts that could be too long due to variances in bolt...
- Gillig has received reports of partial cracking in the steering gear mounting plate in some Low Floor buses
- This field service bulletin provides new information from borg warner (DELCO) revising the maintenance...
- This field service bulletin applies to all non-hybrid low floor buses with 480 volt HVAC systems
- This field service bulletin applies to all low floor buses with skf air dryers
- This field service bulletin applies to all low floor buses
- This field service bulletin applies to all low floor buses with aeroquip FC-300 coolant hoses
- This field service bulletin applies to all low floor buses with luminator or twin vision destination signs
What 2003 Gillig Low Floor owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Compare the 2003 Gillig Low Floor
Other model years
Questions about the 2003 Gillig Low Floor
Is the 2003 Gillig Low Floor reliable?
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2003 Gillig Low Floor, close to a typical Low Floor model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Gillig Low Floor?
Lights, with 1 complaint.
How many recalls does the 2003 Gillig Low Floor have?
9 recalls, covering exterior lighting, interior lighting and fuel system, diesel.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Gillig Low Floor lights?
Yes, 3 recalls: 18V418000, 17V119000, 09V368000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
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