Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I was Pilot Flying; we were being vectored for the ILS 4R into Newark. Approach told us to turn left heading 120 descend and maintain 2000. Next instructions were turn heading 090 direct GRITTY when able. Later; when he was clearing us for the approach he noticed we were passed 3000 and asked why were leveling at 2000. We told him that was the altitude assigned. He continued to clear us for the approach; and landed with no further incidents. Approach was clearing other aircraft down to 2000 so he may have meant to give us 3000 but cleared us to 2000 in error. There was no loss in separation. Possible solutions always verify ATC instructions if unsure; both Pilot Flying and Pilot Monitoring confirmed we heard descend and maintain 2000. But the frequency was very busy so instructions can be easily misheard.
Pilot reported receiving conflicting altitude assignment clearances from ATC during vectoring for approach into EWR.