Menu

Freightliner FreightlinerYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 135 owner complaints and 79 safety recalls on record for the Freightliner Freightliner.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints135Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls791967–2004 model years

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

Best & worst years

Freightliner Freightliner 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 Freightliner median. Tap a year for its full report.

'67'68'69'70'71'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2004Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall2003Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2002Not rated–/10014 complaints · 1 recall2001Not rated–/10028 complaints · 1 recall2000Not rated–/10014 complaints · 1 recall1999Not rated–/10029 complaints · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1996Not rated–/1006 complaints · 2 recalls1995Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1994Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1993Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls1991Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1990Not rated–/1006 complaints · 2 recalls1989Not rated–/1002 complaints · 5 recalls1988Not rated–/1000 complaints · 10 recalls1987Not rated–/1001 complaint · 6 recalls1986Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1985Not rated–/1002 complaints · 5 recalls1984Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls1983Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1981Not rated–/1001 complaint · 9 recalls1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 6 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 6 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 6 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 8 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 11 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 12 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 11 recalls1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 6 recalls1970Not rated–/1000 complaints · 6 recalls1969Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1968Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Freightliner Freightliner problems

All model years combined: 135 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
Service brakes, hydraulic271
Suspension231
Fuel system, gasoline180
Tires141
Service brakes, air131
Electrical system111
Engine and engine cooling110
Visibility100
Power train82
12 other systems355
79 recalls

Freightliner Freightliner recalls

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

–Suspension05V-284 · 2004 · Jun 14, 2005 · 634 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling05V-207 · 2000–2003 · Apr 27, 2005 · 248 vehicles–Conventional: air98V-003 · 1997 · Jan 5, 1998 · 2,587 vehicles–Steering: column96V-167 · 1995–1997 · Sep 19, 1996 · 2,688 vehicles–Suspension96V-124 · 1995–1996 · Jul 26, 1996 · 48 vehicles–Service brakes, air93V-070 · 1992 · Apr 26, 1993 · 160 vehicles–Disc: chamber93V-069 · 1988–1993 · Apr 26, 1993 · 200 vehicles–Tank assembly: filler pipe and cap93V-068 · 1992 · Apr 26, 1993 · 54 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar91V-047 · 1990 · Jan 2, 1991 · 1,061 vehicles–Wheels: hubcap/cover89V-154 · 1987–1988 · Sep 18, 1989 · 19,000 vehicles–Seats89V-134 · 1988–1989 · Aug 10, 1989 · 107 vehicles–Foundation components: differential proportional valve89V-129 · 1988 · Aug 7, 1989 · 41 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 79 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Freightliner

  1. ABS TONE RING CORRODES CAUSING UNINTENDEPE02061 · 1996–2002 · closed Dec 11, 2002
    No recall
  2. THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGSQ98025 · 1994–1998 · closed Feb 16, 1999
    Led to recall 99V-026
  3. PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRESEA97021 · null · closed Sep 30, 1998
    No recall
  4. FAILURE OF SPRING HANGERSEA85036 · 1977–1983 · closed May 22, 1987
    No recall
  5. 121 BRAKING SYSTEM, VARIOUS PROBLEMSDP78010 · 1977 · closed Apr 24, 1978
    No recall