PlainRecalls

2003 Recalls

Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.

408 recalls · Page 4 of 9

2003 Recall Year Insight

Federal agencies issued 408 product recalls indexed by PlainRecalls in calendar year 2003. That represents about 0.40% of the 101,704 total recalls we track from 1995 through the present, and averages roughly 1.1 recalls per day across the FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA combined. Year-level views are the cleanest way to see macro patterns: volume spikes often correlate with new regulatory priorities (e.g., infant-sleep products after 2021, lithium-ion batteries after 2022), supply-chain contamination events, or changes in agency enforcement intensity, while quiet years can reflect either genuine product-safety improvements or reduced agency staffing and reporting lag. With 9 pages at 50 recalls each, browsing this year end-to-end gives a statistically representative sample of what the federal recall pipeline looked like in 2003.

On this page of 50 records, severity classification shows 23 critical, 27 moderate, and 0 lower-severity recalls. The page references 35 distinct recalling firms operating in 6 distinct product categories, with 19 of 50 records disclosing affected-unit counts. Issuing-agency distribution on this slice leans toward NHTSA (31), CPSC (19), which matters because each agency's recall authority, hazard framing, and remedy mechanism differ, an FDA food recall, a CPSC consumer-product recall, and a NHTSA vehicle recall are legally distinct instruments even when the underlying hazard language sounds similar. Reviewing the dominant agency for a given year is one of the fastest ways to understand where federal attention was concentrated.

Year-indexed browsing serves three practical purposes: historical research (tracking how a hazard class evolved over time), consumer action (finding whether a product purchased in 2003 was later recalled), and journalistic or regulatory context (understanding what the enforcement landscape looked like in a given period). Every record on this page links to a full detail view with the hazard, remedy, distribution, and agency-assigned recall number, always use that recall number to verify current status directly with the issuing agency before acting on time-sensitive remedies, because agencies amend, terminate, and expand recalls in the months and years after initial publication. Data on this page reflects federal agency public filings; the agency's live record remains authoritative for legal, medical, or safety decisions. Verify with FDA openFDA, CPSC, or NHTSA for the system-of-record on any specific recall. PlainRecalls indexes this archive for research and consumer awareness purposes.

← 2002 2004 →
CPSC Moderate Sep 10, 2003

CPSC, Swimways Corp. Announce Recall of Swim Trainers

Swimways Corp., of Virginia Beach, Va.
CPSC Moderate Sep 10, 2003

CPSC, Weber-Stephen Products Announce Recall of Gas Grills

Weber-Stephen Products Co., of Palatine, Ill.
CPSC Moderate Sep 8, 2003

CPSC, Essex PB&R Announce Recall of Plus 10® Fire Escape Hoods

Essex PB&R Corp., of Edwardsville, Ill.
NHTSA Critical Sep 8, 2003

SUZUKI 2004: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SUZUKI
NHTSA Critical Sep 8, 2003

CHRYSLER 2004: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

CHRYSLER
CPSC Moderate Sep 3, 2003

CPSC, GE Interlogix Announce Recall of Smoke Detectors

GE Interlogix (GEI), of Tualatin, Ore.
CPSC Moderate Sep 3, 2003

CPSC, Life Fitness Announce Recall to Repair Treadmills

Life Fitness Division of Brunswick Corporation, of Franklin Park, Ill.
CPSC Moderate Aug 29, 2003

CPSC, IBM and LiteOn Technology Announce Expansion of Previously Announced Recall of Computer Monitors

LiteOn Technology, of Taipei, Taiwan
NHTSA Critical Aug 28, 2003

CHEVROLET,OLDSMOBILE,PONTIAC 2000-2001: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH

CHEVROLET,OLDSMOBILE,PONTIAC
NHTSA Critical Aug 28, 2003

FORD 2004: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

FORD
NHTSA Critical Aug 27, 2003

INTERNATIONAL 2002-2003: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

INTERNATIONAL
NHTSA Critical Aug 26, 2003

BMW 2003: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

BMW
NHTSA Critical Aug 26, 2003

BMW 2003: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BMW
NHTSA Critical Aug 26, 2003

HYUNDAI 2004: AIR BAGS

HYUNDAI
NHTSA Critical Aug 26, 2003

HYUNDAI 2003: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

HYUNDAI
NHTSA Moderate Aug 22, 2003

VOLVO 2003-2004: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VOLVO
NHTSA Critical Aug 22, 2003

NISSAN 2000: WHEELS

NISSAN
NHTSA Moderate Aug 22, 2003

PETERBILT 2004: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

PETERBILT
CPSC Moderate Aug 21, 2003

CPSC, Academy Sports and Outdoors Announce Recall of Propane Heaters

Academy Sports and Outdoors, of Katy, Texas
CPSC Moderate Aug 21, 2003

CPSC, CDX Trading Inc. Announce Recall of Toy Jets

C.D.X. Trading Inc., of Ridgewood, N.Y.
CPSC Moderate Aug 21, 2003

CPSC, CFM Keanall Announce Recall of Gas Grills

CFM Keanall, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
CPSC Moderate Aug 21, 2003

CPSC, Hayward Pool Products Inc. Announce Recall Pool Heaters

Hayward Pool Products Inc., of Elizabeth, N.J.
CPSC Moderate Aug 21, 2003

CPSC, Small World Toys Announce Recall of Children's Puzzle

Small World Toys®, of Culver City, Calif.
NHTSA Moderate Aug 21, 2003

VOLVO 2002: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

VOLVO
NHTSA Critical Aug 20, 2003

SUBARU 2004: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

SUBARU
NHTSA Critical Aug 12, 2003

DODGE 2003: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

DODGE
NHTSA Critical Aug 12, 2003

TOYOTA 2004: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TOYOTA
NHTSA Critical Aug 6, 2003

PETERBILT 2003: POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

PETERBILT
NHTSA Critical Aug 5, 2003

HYUNDAI 2003: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

HYUNDAI
NHTSA Moderate Aug 5, 2003

KENWORTH 2002-2003: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

KENWORTH
NHTSA Moderate Aug 5, 2003

FORD 2004: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

FORD
NHTSA Critical Aug 5, 2003

FORD 2001-2003: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

FORD
NHTSA Critical Aug 5, 2003

FORD,MERCURY 2000-2002: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

FORD,MERCURY
NHTSA Moderate Aug 5, 2003

FORD,MERCURY 2000-2001: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

FORD,MERCURY
NHTSA Critical Aug 5, 2003

FORD 2003: WHEELS

FORD
CPSC Moderate Aug 4, 2003

CPSC, HearthSong Announce Recall of "Happyvillagers" Toy Sets

HearthSong, of Madison, Va.
CPSC Moderate Aug 4, 2003

CPSC, MagicCabin Announce Recall of Toy Trucks

Magic Cabin, of Viroqua, Wis.
NHTSA Moderate Aug 1, 2003

VOLVO 2001-2004: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

VOLVO
CPSC Moderate Jul 31, 2003

CPSC, Cervélo Cycles Inc. Announce Recall of Bicycle Forks

Cervélo Cycles Inc., of Toronto, Canada
CPSC Moderate Jul 31, 2003

CPSC, Hedstrom Corp. Announce Recall of Trampolines

Hedstrom Corp., of Bedford, Pa.
CPSC Moderate Jul 31, 2003

CPSC, Ideal Industries Inc. Announce Recall of Voltage Testers

Ideal Industries Inc., of Sycamore, Ill.
CPSC Moderate Jul 31, 2003

CPSC, International Playthings Inc. Announce Recall of Toy Stacking Rings

International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J.
CPSC Moderate Jul 31, 2003

CPSC, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Announce Recall of Kids Sling Chair

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.
NHTSA Critical Jul 29, 2003

HONDA 2002-2003: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HONDA
NHTSA Critical Jul 28, 2003

INTERNATIONAL 2003: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SLACK ADJUSTERS

INTERNATIONAL
NHTSA Critical Jul 25, 2003

VOLKSWAGEN 2004: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VOLKSWAGEN
NHTSA Moderate Jul 25, 2003

VOLKSWAGEN 2000-2001: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

VOLKSWAGEN
CPSC Moderate Jul 24, 2003

CPSC, Black & Decker Announce Recall to Repair 18-volt Cordless Drill/Drivers
NHTSA Critical Jul 22, 2003

VOLVO 2002-2003: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VOLVO
NHTSA Critical Jul 22, 2003

HYUNDAI 2001-2003: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

HYUNDAI

Nearby Recall Years

Browse recalls from adjacent calendar years to see how federal enforcement volume has shifted over time.

2001 2002 2004 2005 2006

Compare 2003 with 2002 →

Data Sources

  • Source: FDA openFDA Enforcement API - calendar-year recall filings for food, drugs, and devices
  • Source: CPSC + NHTSA - consumer product and vehicle recall feeds for 2003

Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. Figures cover calendar year 2003 across the FDA, CPSC and NHTSA federal recall feeds. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.