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Freightliner ClassicYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 14 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls on record for the Freightliner Classic.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints14Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls91996–2008 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Freightliner Classic years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Classic median. Tap a year for its full report.

'96'98'99'00'01'03'04'05'06'07'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2008Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls2007Not rated–/1001 complaint · 6 recalls2006Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls2005Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2004Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2003Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2001Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls2000Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1999Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Freightliner Classic problems

All model years combined: 14 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling50
Suspension30
Tires20
Service brakes, air21
Power train11
Structure10
Electrical system11
9 recalls

Freightliner Classic recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Fuel system, diesel08V-113 · 2005–2007 · Mar 11, 2008 · 62,000 vehicles–Gear box: shaft sector07V-592 · 2008 · Dec 21, 2007 · 220 vehicles–Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly07V-530 · 2006–2008 · Nov 13, 2007 · 38,000 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: delivery07V-335 · 2007–2008 · Aug 2, 2007 · 4,299 vehicles–Steering07V-306 · 2007–2008 · Jul 18, 2007 · 18,000 vehicles–Supply: check valve07V-302 · 2003–2008 · Jul 16, 2007 · 75,000 vehicles–Conventional: air06V-205 · 2007 · Jun 12, 2006 · 5,243 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling06V-030 · 2004–2006 · Feb 8, 2006 · 5,771 vehicles–Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly03V-227 · 2000 · Jun 17, 2003 · 2,000 vehicles
2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Classic

  1. INSECURE FIFTH WHEEL LATCHINGPE07047 · 2006–2008 · closed Nov 19, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-530
  2. INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLYPE02088 · 1996–2002 · closed May 1, 2003
    Led to recall 03E-019