Model line

Freightliner Classic

Every Freightliner Classic model year on file, 1996 to 2008. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years143 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years131996 to 2008
Recall campaigns9Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins1Summed across model years
By model year

The 2001 model year drew the most complaints, 6, 43% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

024619961998200062002200420062008
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Engine and cooling leads the Freightliner Classic complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Engine and cooling
5
Suspension
3
Tires
2
Brakes
2
Powertrain
1
Electrical system
1
Structure
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each Freightliner Classic model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

Freightliner Classic by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2008Not decoded0NoneNone510
2007Bus10.0100611
2006Not decoded10.0100410
2005Not decoded0NoneNone300
2004Not decoded0NoneNone200
2003Not decoded0NoneNone100
2002Not decoded0NoneNone010
2001Not decoded616.7600010
2000Heavy truck20.067110
1999Not decoded1100.0100010
1998Not decoded20.0200010
1997Not decoded0NoneNone010
1996Not decoded1100.0100010
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the Freightliner Classic

  • 08V-113 Mar 11, 2008
    Fractured fuel line could leak diesel fuel
    Fuel system · 62k vehicles
  • 07V-592 Dec 21, 2007
    On certain trucks equipped with trw steering gears, models tas85 and rcs85, these steering gears contain potentially defective sector shafts with…
    Steering · 220 vehicles
  • 07V-530 Nov 13, 2007
    On certain truck-tractors equipped with holland simplex se or se ii fifth wheels, the latch lever pivot bolt assembly may have been over-tightened…
    Trailer hitches · 38k vehicles
  • 07V-335 Aug 2, 2007
    On certain trucks, a manufacturing error in the fuel-water separator preheater thermoswitch may prevent the fuel preheater from turning off if the…
    Fuel system · 4,299 vehicles
  • 07V-306 Jul 18, 2007
    During the front axle assembly, the fasteners that attach the steering arm or tie rod arms to the spindle may be over or under tightened
    Steering · 18k vehicles
  • 07V-302 Jul 16, 2007
    Certain freightliner school bus chassis, heavy trucks, and thomas built school buses manufactured between july 2002 and july 3, 2007, equipped…
    Brakes · 75k vehicles
  • 06V-205 Jun 12, 2006
    Certain heavy trucks, shuttle buses, and school buses equipped with bendix modulated spring brake valves
    Brakes · 5,243 vehicles
  • 06V-030 Feb 8, 2006
    On certain trucks equipped with caterpillar diesel engines, the variable valve actuation oil line may wear against the sharp edge of the cylinder…
    Engine and cooling · 5,771 vehicles
  • 03V-227 Jun 17, 2003
    On certain truck tractors equipped with jost international jsk 37u series fifth wheels, a fatigue crack can develop in the bracket pin weld under…
    Trailer hitches · 2,000 vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.