2005 Freightliner Business Class M2 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Freightliner Business Class M2, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes222.2%
- Fuel system222.2%
- Body & structure111.1%
- Suspension111.1%
- Visibility111.1%
- Engine111.1%
- Electrical111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT THE REAR BRAKES DRAGGING. THERE WAS NO REAR BRAKING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ABS SNENSOR DETACHED FROM THE METAL HOLDER, WHICH OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE ABS SENSOR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,300. UPDATED 06/03/10*BF UPDATED 06/07/10*JB
PARKING AIR BRAKE VALVE HAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM INNER (PLASTIC) DASH MOUNT RENDERING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE THE BRAKE. THIS COULD CAUSE DEATH OR INJURY IF THE PARKING BRAKE CANNOT BE ENGAGED. I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS STERLING MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS PER THE INTERNET. REPLACEMENT INNER DASH PLUS LABOR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND PROVIDES NO GUARANTY IT WON'T BREAK AGAIN. THIS IS POOR DESIGN USING INADEQUATE MATERIAL IN A HIGH STRESS AREA. (VIN ENTRY BLOCK WILL NOT ACCEPT MY VIN EVEN THOUGH IT IS CORRECT). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES BROKE, CAUSING A BREAKDOWN, TOW AND REPAIR. LOSS OF FUEL ALSO. LINES WERE REPLACED AT AUTHORIZED DEALER WITH WHAT WAS AVAILABLE. THIS BREAKDOWN NOT INCLUDING FUEL LOSS RESULTED IN A LOST DAY AND $700 COSTS. 3 MONTHS LATER, WE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE LINES AGAIN. THE NOTICE SAYS WE COULD QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT, BUT WHEN I CALLED DETROIT DIESEL, THEY SAID NO. SEEMS THAT DEFECTIVE LINES WERE THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME FRAME. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THE FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY BURST WITHOUT WARNING AND BEGAN TO SPRAY DIESEL FUEL ONTO THE VEHICLE AND THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE FUEL LINES WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A NHTSA RECALL, #05V469000 REMEDY REPAIR TO THE ENGINE BY EMC RECALIBRATION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL LIFT PUMP WAS PERFORMED WHICH PERTAINED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER AN ADDITIONAL REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
PARKING AIR BRAKE VALVE HAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM INNER (PLASTIC) DASH MOUNT RENDERING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE THE BRAKE. THIS COULD CAUSE DEATH OR INJURY IF THE PARKING BRAKE CANNOT BE ENGAGED. I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS STERLING MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS PER THE INTERNET. REPLACEMENT INNER DASH PLUS LABOR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND PROVIDES NO GUARANTY IT WON'T BREAK AGAIN. THIS IS POOR DESIGN USING INADEQUATE MATERIAL IN A HIGH STRESS AREA. (VIN ENTRY BLOCK WILL NOT ACCEPT MY VIN EVEN THOUGH IT IS CORRECT). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED ACROSS THE ROAD CRASHING INTO THE SIDE OF A BRICK HOUSE CAUSING MODERATE DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT AXLE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V137000 (POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY). THE IDENTICAL FAILURE REOCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED SIGNIFICANT CONCERN OF THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 01/26/11*LJ UPDATED 04/18/11
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN 2006 BUT EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR AND SOONER IF I RUN THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER ON HI I HAVE TO REPLACE EVERY MONTH OR SO.THE GROUND WIRE GETS HOT AND THE MOTOR GOES BAD.A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THIS VEHICLE AND A NEW MODEL OF HEATER BLOWER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED.BECAUSE THE FRENCH MADE MODEL DON'T LAST VERY LONG AT ALL. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT FAN WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN 2006 BUT EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR AND SOONER IF I RUN THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER ON HI I HAVE TO REPLACE EVERY MONTH OR SO.THE GROUND WIRE GETS HOT AND THE MOTOR GOES BAD.A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THIS VEHICLE AND A NEW MODEL OF HEATER BLOWER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED.BECAUSE THE FRENCH MADE MODEL DON'T LAST VERY LONG AT ALL. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .