RecallMyCar

Freightliner Business Class Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 18 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints across 13 model years of the Freightliner Business Class (1991–2003). The most-complained-about year is 2003.

18
safety recalls, all years
13
owner complaints, all years
2000
year with most recalls
2003
year with most complaints

Pick your Freightliner Business Class model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2003 Freightliner Business Class17
2002 Freightliner Business Class50
2001 Freightliner Business Class60
2000 Freightliner Business Class91
1999 Freightliner Business Class51
1998 Freightliner Business Class50
1997 Freightliner Business Class62
1996 Freightliner Business Class50
1995 Freightliner Business Class42
1994 Freightliner Business Class30
1993 Freightliner Business Class20
1992 Freightliner Business Class20
1991 Freightliner Business Class20

What Freightliner Business Class owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. The 2003 model year has the most, with 7.

All Freightliner Business Class recalls (18)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Freightliner Business Class, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Wheel bearing (suspension)

    NHTSA 04V272000 Reported 9,602 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER LLC

    On certain trucks built with 8,000 or 6,000 pound front axles and four-piece spindle nut sets, premature front ,wheel bearing wear may be caused by inconsistent bearing endplay adjustment.

    Remedy: The dealers will replace the front axle oil seals and hub cap gaskets on both sides. The recall began september 7, 2004. Owners should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

    Model years: 2002, 2003

  2. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 03V246000 Reported 62 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain trucks and buses equipped with cummins electronic control modules on the c8.3g and l10g engines, the ECM does not have the ability to detect a throttle fail-safe engine shutdown command. This could result in an unanticipated, uncommanded open throttle condition without warning.

    Remedy: Cummins will notify the customers and replace the ECM. Owners should contact cummins at 1-800-343-7357 or freightliner at 1-503-745-5219.

    Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997

  3. Fifth wheel assembly (trailer hitches)

    NHTSA 03V227000 Reported 2,000 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain truck tractors equipped with jost international jsk 37u series fifth wheels, a fatigue crack can develop in the bracket pin weld under certain loading conditions.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the bracket pins and repair instructions free of charge. Owner notification began november 12, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…

    Model years: 2000

  4. Diesel (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 03V203000 Reported 73 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain heavy trucks and motorhomes equipped with cummins westport b gas plus or c gas plus 6 cylinder engines, the electronic control module calibration may not correctly detect a throttle plate actuator failure that could result in an uncommanded open throttle condition.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the electronic control module calibration free of charge. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…

    Model years: 2002

  5. Hub (suspension)

    NHTSA 03V112000 Reported 5,716 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain trucks equipped with truck hub units manufactured by skf exclusively for use on arvinmeritor's ff98x series non-drive steer axles, the hub unit bearings can wear prematurely.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace both front hubs. Owner notification is expected to begin on or before september 20, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…

    Model years: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

  6. Fifth wheel assembly (trailer hitches)

    NHTSA 02V337000 Reported 733 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain truck-tractor model vehicles equipped with conmet simplex stationary or sliding fifth-wheel, the clinch pins that retain the fifth-wheel pivot pins may not be fully installed.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fifth wheel to verify the correct installation of the clinch pin and pivot pin. Missing pins will be replaced. Owner notification began november 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an…

    Model years: 2002

  7. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 02V280000 Reported 53 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain crew cab trucks equipped with hydraulic brakes, the hydraulic brake lines from the chassis mounted anti-lock brake system (ABS) modulator valve can be damaged by interference with the cab mounted auxiliary heater duct.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake lines. Owner notification began on december 26, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…

    Model years: 2001, 2002

  8. Linkage and cable (parking brake)

    NHTSA 02V108001 Reported 548 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain trucks equipped with meritor brand 12" x 4" dcm drum parking brake, the bolts used to attach the parking brake assembly to the flange yoke are too large and can interfere with the proper engagement of the braking system and possibly disengage.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the attaching bolts with the correct size bolts free of charge. Owner notification is expected to begin during october 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

    Model years: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

  9. Check valve (service brakes)

    NHTSA 02V018002 Reported 5,176 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with meritor wabco pneumatic anitlock brake system (ABS) valve packages, the assembly bolts on these valve packages were not tightened correctly.

    Remedy: Dealers will tighten the fasteners to the proper specification. Owner notification began april 4, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…

    Model years: 2001

  10. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 01V322002 Reported 2,700 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: medium duty trucks, fire trucks, and transit buses and school buses equipped with electronic throttle control/accelerator pedals supplied by williams controls industries. The weld attaching the clevis to the plate has insufficient penetration and could allow the clevis to separate from the plate.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace these pedals. Owner notification began march 18, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable…

    Model years: 2001

  11. Service brakes, air: controls, pedals and linkages

    NHTSA 01V189001 Reported 4,400 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with certain haldex brake system two and four port relay valves. The valve may stick open when a high-pressure application is released.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace these valves. Owner notification began october 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable…

    Model years: 2000, 2001

  12. Service brakes, air: controls, pedals and linkages

    NHTSA 00V357000 Reported 105,000 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The brake pedal push rod that activates the service brakes could fracture.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake pedal push rod.

    Model years: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

  13. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 00V229001 Reported 594 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks, shuttle buses, transit buses and step vans equipped with allison 1000 or 2400 series transmissions. These transmissions can experience park pawl to rear cover interference due to an out of flatness condition.

    Remedy: Allison transmission is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will remove the transmission from the vehicle, replace the park pawl, and reinstall the transmission in the vehicle. Owner…

    Model years: 2000

  14. Antilock (service brakes)

    NHTSA 00V232002 Reported 35,405 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks and school bus chassis built with bendix air ABS with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ECU), there have been reports of unwanted ABS activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed ABS wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the ABS ECU.

    Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

  15. Rim (wheels)

    NHTSA 00V190001 Reported 143 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with accuride 22.5 x 8.25 15 tubeless demountable rims, part no. 32051. Certain rims contain a non-fusion area in the butt-weld of the mounting ring. Under certain circumstances, the defect could develop into a crack on the mounting ring.

    Remedy: Accuride will inspect and replace the defective or suspect wheel rims.

    Model years: 2000

  16. Air suspension system (suspension)

    NHTSA 00V081000 Reported 13,545 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks built with dual leaf spring type air ride suspensions and vehicles built with single leaf spring type air ride suspensions. Rear suspension springs can fracture through the center bolt hole after vehicle assembly.

    Remedy: For vehicles equipped with single leaf springs, dealers will remove and replace all springs. For vehicles equipped with dual leaf springs, dealers will inspect for cracked springs and replace if cracked.

    Model years: 1999, 2000

  17. Service brakes, air

    NHTSA 99V065000 Reported 142 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with a bendix anti-lock braking system (ABS). The rear axle ABS modulating valves may be plumbed incorrectly.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle ABS modulating valve supply and outlet port for correct plumbing and re-plumb if necessary.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

  18. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 98V052000 Reported 8,485 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: truck-tractors equipped with 26" 8-blade metal engine cooling fans. The fan blades can fatigue crack and eventually separate from the fan.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace these fans with fans which are more durable.

    Model years: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997

Other Freightliner models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.