RecallMyCar

2002 Freightliner Columbia Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2002 Freightliner Columbia, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
2
owner complaints to NHTSA
1 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire

3 safety recalls for the 2002 Freightliner Columbia

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Equipment

    NHTSA 17V810000 Reported 24,860 vehicles potentially affected Daimler Trucks North America LLC

    Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado trucks and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900 and 6900 trucks. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the…

    Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, or…

  2. Seats

    NHTSA 05V001000 Reported 1,770 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER LLC

    On certain trucks equipped with seats built by gra-mag, the seat pivot bolts can loosen and possibly fracture or dislodge, causing the seat back to fail to provide full support to the driver's back.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair these vehicles. The recall began on april 20, 2005. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

  3. Service brakes, air

    NHTSA 02V321001 Reported 427 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain trucks equipped with manifold dash valves with push to connect fittings used to control the park brake function on trucks and trailers with air brakes, the park knob can pop out unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion. This will exhaust the air from the park brake system on the trailer and apply the parking brakes.

    Remedy: Haldex will notify its customers to make arrangements to have the valve inspected and, if necessary, replaced free of charge. Owner notification is expected to begin during january 2003. Owners who take their vehicles…

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 Freightliner Columbia have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“2002 freightliner leaked diesel fuel due to a broken fuel line. *ts *jb”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 22, 2006 · Fuel system, other

“Previously submitted report on a total of 5 failures, odi number 762991 on 6/12/2002. Since that point we have had an additional 14 failures, and 1 more accident. Trw the manufacturer of the steering”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 27, 2002 · Steering

Compare Freightliner Columbia model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Freightliner Columbia model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1997 Freightliner Columbia10
1998 Freightliner Columbia20
1999 Freightliner Columbia20
2000 Freightliner Columbia31
2001 Freightliner Columbia13
2002 Freightliner Columbia32
2003 Freightliner Columbia510
2004 Freightliner Columbia1013
2005 Freightliner Columbia1438
2006 Freightliner Columbia2114
2007 Freightliner Columbia2711
2008 Freightliner Columbia301
2009 Freightliner Columbia202
2010 Freightliner Columbia181
2011 Freightliner Columbia130
2012 Freightliner Columbia60
2013 Freightliner Columbia50
2014 Freightliner Columbia50
2015 Freightliner Columbia30
2016 Freightliner Columbia30
2017 Freightliner Columbia30
2018 Freightliner Columbia20
2019 Freightliner Columbia30
2020 Freightliner Columbia20
2021 Freightliner Columbia10

Checking a specific 2002 Freightliner Columbia

How do I know if my 2002 Freightliner Columbia has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2002 Freightliner Columbia; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Freightliner dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V321001).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

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.