2001 Freightliner Freightliner 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 2001 Freightliner Freightliner, 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
- Fuel system1645.7%
- Suspension720.0%
- Brakes38.6%
- Engine25.7%
- Tires & wheels25.7%
- Visibility12.9%
- Driver assistance12.9%
- Other / unspecified12.9%
- Steering12.9%
- Body & structure12.9%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
#1 FUEL LINE BRAKES HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SPARYS OVER HOT EXHAUST MAINFOLD MAY CAUSE FIRE CHILDREN ON SCHOOLBUS FUEL ON GROUND
#1FUEL LINE BRAKES HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SPARYS OVER HOT EXHAUST MAINFOLD CHILDREN ON SCHOOL BUS FUEL ON GROUND
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS ROUTED SO THAT IT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE REAR AIR SPRING SUSPENSION. OVER TIME THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE BURNED A HOLE IN AIR SPRING BAG. IN OUR CASE THE FAILURE WAS NOT CASTASTROPHIC. WE WERE PARKED AND AIR LOSS WAS SLOW. I HAVE CONCERNS THAT UNDER DRIVING CONDITIONS THE AIR LOSS COULD HAVE BEEN MORE RAPID AND HANDLING COMPROMISED. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE ROUTING AND THE FAILED COMPONENT. M
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE UNIT WAS TOO HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT SUDDENLY BEGINS TO SWAY SIDE TO SIDE. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REMEDY FOR THE SERVICE BRAKES RECALL 93 V 104 000 FAILED 6 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MODEL # F160. *AK *SCC *JB
THE REMEDY FOR THE SERVICE BRAKE RECALL 93 V 104 000 FAILED 15 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MODEL F160.*AK *TS *JB
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
TRUCK WONDERS ON ROAD, DEALER BELIEVES THAT TIRES ARE THE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *AKCONSUMER STATED THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, DEALER FOUND THE SENSOR DISC ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEEN BENT UPON ASSEMBLY OF THE WORK, SHIMS FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE RUBBER CONE FOR THE HOOD MOUNT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO SAG AND RUBBED PAINT OFF OF THE COWL AND THE INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD STARTED COMING LOOSE AND IT HANGS DOWN ON TO THE ENGINE, THE CAB LEAKS WATER CAUSING THE WATER TO LAY AROUND THE FLOOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS WATER FROM THE TOP AND ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THE BUNK DOOR LEAKS AIR AND SOUND AS THOUGH THEY ARE OPEN, THE DASH APART THREE TIMES AND IT RATTLES, DEALER REPLACED DASH LIGHTS AND FLASHER RELAY, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE KEY, ENGINE STOPS BUT STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON THE ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK MOTOR OIL, THE OIL SLUNG ALL OVER THE FRONT OF ENGINE, BATTERY, TOOLBOXES, FUEL TANKS AND UNDER CARRIAGE, ENGINE DEVELOPED FREQUENT MISS/POWER LOSS, THE STEERING WILL DRAFT RIGHT OR LEFT, NOW THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION THAT COMES AND GOES SOME WHERE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A WHEEL HOP AND SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END THAT COMES AND GOES, THE DESK TOP DRAWER IN THE BUNK DOES NOT STAY LATCHED CAUSING CRUSHING NOISE AND PYROMETER BROKE. *YD
THE FIRST FAILURE-COOLANT SYSTEM-I WAS NEVER GIVEN A STRAIGHT ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS SYSTEM CONSTANTLY FAILED (OVER 25 TIMES THE TRUCK SHUT ITSELF DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING SOME VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS) I AM STILL IN DISBELIEF THAT I WAS NEVER SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THAT TRUCK--I HAVE ONLY A FEW DOCUMENTS TO PROVE THESE BREAKDOWNS AS MAINLY I WAS THE ONE WHO REFILLED MY TANKS 10 TIMES A DAY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO CONSTANT LEAKS THAT FREIGHTLINER COULD NEVER FIX OR FIND-ALSO THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULD NOT GET DOCUMENTATION BECAUSE THE WORK I WAS HAVING DONE WAS "WARRANTY WORK" AND DIDNT CONSTITUTE GETTING PAPERWORK UNLESS I ACTUALLY PAID FOR SOMETHING-THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS COMPANY STANDARD POLICY--SECOND PROBLEM--FUEL LOCKUP--2 TIMES THE FUEL SYSTEM LOCKED UP(I WAS LATER TOLD BY A VOLVO MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON FREIGHTLINERS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BEFORE THE TRUCK WAS EVEN SOLD-BUT FREIGHTLINER COULD NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM AND EVEN TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES THAT "NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK"--YET I WAS STILL CHARGED SEVERAL TIMES FOR A TOWING BILL TO GET MY SUPPOSEDLY NONBROKEN DOWN TRUCK TO THEIR SHOPS--I ALWAYS USED FREIGHTLINER SERVICE BECAUSE I DIDNT WANT MY WARRANTY SACRIFICED AND MUCH OF THE WORK WAS DONE (BY LEGAL ARRANGEMENT) FOR FREE--THIS FUEL LINE PROBLEM ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE TWICE--I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT GET HURT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT STEER TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FENDER AND BRAKES, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC
TRUCK WONDERS ON ROAD, DEALER BELIEVES THAT TIRES ARE THE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *AKCONSUMER STATED THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, DEALER FOUND THE SENSOR DISC ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEEN BENT UPON ASSEMBLY OF THE WORK, SHIMS FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE RUBBER CONE FOR THE HOOD MOUNT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO SAG AND RUBBED PAINT OFF OF THE COWL AND THE INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD STARTED COMING LOOSE AND IT HANGS DOWN ON TO THE ENGINE, THE CAB LEAKS WATER CAUSING THE WATER TO LAY AROUND THE FLOOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS WATER FROM THE TOP AND ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THE BUNK DOOR LEAKS AIR AND SOUND AS THOUGH THEY ARE OPEN, THE DASH APART THREE TIMES AND IT RATTLES, DEALER REPLACED DASH LIGHTS AND FLASHER RELAY, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE KEY, ENGINE STOPS BUT STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON THE ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK MOTOR OIL, THE OIL SLUNG ALL OVER THE FRONT OF ENGINE, BATTERY, TOOLBOXES, FUEL TANKS AND UNDER CARRIAGE, ENGINE DEVELOPED FREQUENT MISS/POWER LOSS, THE STEERING WILL DRAFT RIGHT OR LEFT, NOW THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION THAT COMES AND GOES SOME WHERE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A WHEEL HOP AND SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END THAT COMES AND GOES, THE DESK TOP DRAWER IN THE BUNK DOES NOT STAY LATCHED CAUSING CRUSHING NOISE AND PYROMETER BROKE. *YD
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
TRUCK WONDERS ON ROAD, DEALER BELIEVES THAT TIRES ARE THE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *AKCONSUMER STATED THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, DEALER FOUND THE SENSOR DISC ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEEN BENT UPON ASSEMBLY OF THE WORK, SHIMS FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE RUBBER CONE FOR THE HOOD MOUNT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO SAG AND RUBBED PAINT OFF OF THE COWL AND THE INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD STARTED COMING LOOSE AND IT HANGS DOWN ON TO THE ENGINE, THE CAB LEAKS WATER CAUSING THE WATER TO LAY AROUND THE FLOOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS WATER FROM THE TOP AND ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THE BUNK DOOR LEAKS AIR AND SOUND AS THOUGH THEY ARE OPEN, THE DASH APART THREE TIMES AND IT RATTLES, DEALER REPLACED DASH LIGHTS AND FLASHER RELAY, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE KEY, ENGINE STOPS BUT STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON THE ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK MOTOR OIL, THE OIL SLUNG ALL OVER THE FRONT OF ENGINE, BATTERY, TOOLBOXES, FUEL TANKS AND UNDER CARRIAGE, ENGINE DEVELOPED FREQUENT MISS/POWER LOSS, THE STEERING WILL DRAFT RIGHT OR LEFT, NOW THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION THAT COMES AND GOES SOME WHERE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A WHEEL HOP AND SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END THAT COMES AND GOES, THE DESK TOP DRAWER IN THE BUNK DOES NOT STAY LATCHED CAUSING CRUSHING NOISE AND PYROMETER BROKE. *YD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUCK WONDERS ON ROAD, DEALER BELIEVES THAT TIRES ARE THE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *AKCONSUMER STATED THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, DEALER FOUND THE SENSOR DISC ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEEN BENT UPON ASSEMBLY OF THE WORK, SHIMS FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE RUBBER CONE FOR THE HOOD MOUNT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO SAG AND RUBBED PAINT OFF OF THE COWL AND THE INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD STARTED COMING LOOSE AND IT HANGS DOWN ON TO THE ENGINE, THE CAB LEAKS WATER CAUSING THE WATER TO LAY AROUND THE FLOOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS WATER FROM THE TOP AND ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THE BUNK DOOR LEAKS AIR AND SOUND AS THOUGH THEY ARE OPEN, THE DASH APART THREE TIMES AND IT RATTLES, DEALER REPLACED DASH LIGHTS AND FLASHER RELAY, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE KEY, ENGINE STOPS BUT STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON THE ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK MOTOR OIL, THE OIL SLUNG ALL OVER THE FRONT OF ENGINE, BATTERY, TOOLBOXES, FUEL TANKS AND UNDER CARRIAGE, ENGINE DEVELOPED FREQUENT MISS/POWER LOSS, THE STEERING WILL DRAFT RIGHT OR LEFT, NOW THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION THAT COMES AND GOES SOME WHERE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A WHEEL HOP AND SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END THAT COMES AND GOES, THE DESK TOP DRAWER IN THE BUNK DOES NOT STAY LATCHED CAUSING CRUSHING NOISE AND PYROMETER BROKE. *YD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUCK WONDERS ON ROAD, DEALER BELIEVES THAT TIRES ARE THE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *AKCONSUMER STATED THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, DEALER FOUND THE SENSOR DISC ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEEN BENT UPON ASSEMBLY OF THE WORK, SHIMS FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE RUBBER CONE FOR THE HOOD MOUNT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO SAG AND RUBBED PAINT OFF OF THE COWL AND THE INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD STARTED COMING LOOSE AND IT HANGS DOWN ON TO THE ENGINE, THE CAB LEAKS WATER CAUSING THE WATER TO LAY AROUND THE FLOOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS WATER FROM THE TOP AND ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THE BUNK DOOR LEAKS AIR AND SOUND AS THOUGH THEY ARE OPEN, THE DASH APART THREE TIMES AND IT RATTLES, DEALER REPLACED DASH LIGHTS AND FLASHER RELAY, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE KEY, ENGINE STOPS BUT STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON THE ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK MOTOR OIL, THE OIL SLUNG ALL OVER THE FRONT OF ENGINE, BATTERY, TOOLBOXES, FUEL TANKS AND UNDER CARRIAGE, ENGINE DEVELOPED FREQUENT MISS/POWER LOSS, THE STEERING WILL DRAFT RIGHT OR LEFT, NOW THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION THAT COMES AND GOES SOME WHERE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A WHEEL HOP AND SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END THAT COMES AND GOES, THE DESK TOP DRAWER IN THE BUNK DOES NOT STAY LATCHED CAUSING CRUSHING NOISE AND PYROMETER BROKE. *YD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUCK WONDERS ON ROAD, DEALER BELIEVES THAT TIRES ARE THE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *AKCONSUMER STATED THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, DEALER FOUND THE SENSOR DISC ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEEN BENT UPON ASSEMBLY OF THE WORK, SHIMS FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE RUBBER CONE FOR THE HOOD MOUNT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO SAG AND RUBBED PAINT OFF OF THE COWL AND THE INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD STARTED COMING LOOSE AND IT HANGS DOWN ON TO THE ENGINE, THE CAB LEAKS WATER CAUSING THE WATER TO LAY AROUND THE FLOOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS WATER FROM THE TOP AND ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THE BUNK DOOR LEAKS AIR AND SOUND AS THOUGH THEY ARE OPEN, THE DASH APART THREE TIMES AND IT RATTLES, DEALER REPLACED DASH LIGHTS AND FLASHER RELAY, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE KEY, ENGINE STOPS BUT STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON THE ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK MOTOR OIL, THE OIL SLUNG ALL OVER THE FRONT OF ENGINE, BATTERY, TOOLBOXES, FUEL TANKS AND UNDER CARRIAGE, ENGINE DEVELOPED FREQUENT MISS/POWER LOSS, THE STEERING WILL DRAFT RIGHT OR LEFT, NOW THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION THAT COMES AND GOES SOME WHERE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A WHEEL HOP AND SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END THAT COMES AND GOES, THE DESK TOP DRAWER IN THE BUNK DOES NOT STAY LATCHED CAUSING CRUSHING NOISE AND PYROMETER BROKE. *YD
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
TRUCK WONDERS ON ROAD, DEALER BELIEVES THAT TIRES ARE THE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *AKCONSUMER STATED THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, DEALER FOUND THE SENSOR DISC ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEEN BENT UPON ASSEMBLY OF THE WORK, SHIMS FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE RUBBER CONE FOR THE HOOD MOUNT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO SAG AND RUBBED PAINT OFF OF THE COWL AND THE INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD STARTED COMING LOOSE AND IT HANGS DOWN ON TO THE ENGINE, THE CAB LEAKS WATER CAUSING THE WATER TO LAY AROUND THE FLOOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LEAKS WATER FROM THE TOP AND ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THE BUNK DOOR LEAKS AIR AND SOUND AS THOUGH THEY ARE OPEN, THE DASH APART THREE TIMES AND IT RATTLES, DEALER REPLACED DASH LIGHTS AND FLASHER RELAY, AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE KEY, ENGINE STOPS BUT STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON THE ENGINE STARTED TO LEAK MOTOR OIL, THE OIL SLUNG ALL OVER THE FRONT OF ENGINE, BATTERY, TOOLBOXES, FUEL TANKS AND UNDER CARRIAGE, ENGINE DEVELOPED FREQUENT MISS/POWER LOSS, THE STEERING WILL DRAFT RIGHT OR LEFT, NOW THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION THAT COMES AND GOES SOME WHERE IN THE DRIVETRAIN, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A WHEEL HOP AND SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END THAT COMES AND GOES, THE DESK TOP DRAWER IN THE BUNK DOES NOT STAY LATCHED CAUSING CRUSHING NOISE AND PYROMETER BROKE. *YD
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 .