RoadVitals

2001 Freightliner Classic

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Apr 4, 2006
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Freightliner Classic, most frequently naming the engine, body & structure and electrical categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine342.9%
  • Body & structure114.3%
  • Electrical114.3%
  • Suspension114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE02088ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY

Opened Nov 22, 2002
Closed May 1, 2003

FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD TO FREIGHTLINER IN THE AFTERMARKET. ODI NOTES THAT THERE ARE TWOINTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES PER FRONT AXLE.FREIGHTLINER IDENTIFIED VEHICLES INCLUDINGFREIGHTLINER,STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR BRAND NAME AS BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

WHEELSLed to recall 03E019000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 4, 2006

2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC LEFT FRONT STEER TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE LEFT FENDER, BUMPER AND HOOD WERE DAMAGED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10155158
Incident
Feb 10, 2006
Engine
Filed Sep 8, 2004

ENGINE'S HYDRAULIC PUMP AND FAN FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMOKED BECAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATED. NO FIRE REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10091562
Incident
Jul 17, 2004
Mileage
73,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 13, 2004

NO ACCIDENT - NO EVENT - JUST NORMAL DRIVING - STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE CAB UNIT - CLASS 8 VEHICLE - NOW UNSAFE - NOT ROAD WORTHY - 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE - MANUFACTURER AWARE OF PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WITH SAME DAMAGES TO STRUCTURE - NOT WILLING TO REPAIR UNIT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10072535
Incident
Apr 23, 2004
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2003

COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE TURBO CHARGER ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE, THE LIQUID DRIPPED THROUGH THE PIPE WHICH CAUSED FUMES TO ESCAPE INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10007220
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2003

COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE TURBO CHARGER ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE, THE LIQUID DRIPPED THROUGH THE PIPES WHICH CAUSED FUMES TO ESCAPE IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10007219
Mileage
92,000 mi
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Oct 10, 2002
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLY RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (FREIGHTLINER FLD132064T 2001). NLM

NHTSA ID
786471
Incident
Apr 25, 2002

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Freightliner Classic by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008051—
2007161—
2006141—
2005030—
2004020—
2003010—
2002001—
2001Viewing601—
2000211—
1999101—
1998201—
1997001—
1996101—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.