Model year record

2002 Freightliner Freightliner recalls & problems

The 2002 Freightliner Freightliner has 1 safety recall and 14 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (5 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints14filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingApr 27, 2005

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 05V207000248 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: CERTAIN MY 2000-2003 FREIGHTLINER, THOMAS MVP SCHOOL BUS AND WESTERN STARS TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 19, 2000, AND MARCH 30, 2005, AND EQUIPPED WITH WEBASTO COOLANT HEATERS, MODEL DBW 2010, ASSEMBLED WITH WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, P/N 303046/26533A. THE STAINLESS STEEL BURNER TUBE IS MADE OUT OF A MATERIAL THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.
Risk: SHOULD THE BURNER TUBE FAIL, THE COOLANT HEATER COULD OVERHEAT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE SUBJECT BURNER TUBES WITH NEW CERTIFIED BURNER TUBES AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFICE AT 1-336-889-4871 OR CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Pads; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	5	0	15,000 mi
VisibilityWindshield; Windshield wiper/washer › Switch/wiring	4	0	—
Electrical systemWiring	3	1	—
TiresSidewall; Tread/belt	3	0	—
StructureBody › Door › Hinge and attachments	2	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch	1	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	—
Seats	1	0	—
Service brakes, airAntilock	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Tires
2002 FREIGHTLINER SEMI TIRE CAME OFF AND TWO OTHER VEHICLES STUCK THE TIRE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0598-90)*JB
Sep 7, 2010
Electrical system › Wiring
2002 FREIGHTLINER BUS ENGINE QUIT GOING DOWN HUGE HILL/SMALL MOUNTAIN IN TENNESSEE CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL. FREE WHEELED DOWN MOUNTAIN, TAKING EXIT, RUNNING STOP LIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSING CRASH WITH 30 PAX ON BOARD. ELECTRICAL WIRE FROM FACTORY LOOSE AND CORRODED.
Jul 1, 2005 · 79,000 miles
Tires › Tread/belt
GOODYEAR G328, SIZE 295/75R/22.5 THIS TIRE HAD A LUG PATTERN. ALSO, IT CAUSED LATERAL SWAYING. OWNER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND VEHICLE BECAME TOTALLY UNSTABLE. OWNER REPORTED THIS DEFECT TO THE MOTOR POOL AT FED-X, BUT WAS TOLD TO DEAL WITH IT. *AK
Jan 2, 2005 · 206,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
CONSUMER DRIVES A FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER AND THE BRAKE WEAR INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE THE PADS AND ROTORS FOR THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES TWICE. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. ALSO THE PADS ARE THE WRONG SIZE.*AK
Jul 22, 2003 · 15,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE PADS AND ROTORS FOR THE REAR AND FRONT BRAKES. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT THE PROPER SIZE.*AK
Jul 15, 2003 · 15,000 miles
Service brakes, air › Antilock
EXCESSIVE BRAKE FADE IN ALFA SEE YA COACH EQUIPPED WITH FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS WHICH RESULTS IN THE UNIT BEING VERY HARD TO STOP AND NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE UNIT HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB BEING DONE AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK
Oct 25, 2002 · 8,000 miles
Tires › Sidewall
TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. *PH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER MOTOR HOME OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. FREIGHTLINER AND MICHELIN ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. (XC CHASSIS) *SC
Dec 26, 2003 · 22,465 miles
Electrical system
CONSUMER NEEDS INFORMATION ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX A PROBLEM IN REGARDS OF THE VAN'S SEAT. *LA IN RE: VIN#[XXX], THE BACK DOOR DID NOT CLOSE AND THE KEY REMOTE LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE, THE MIRRORS VIBRATED. IN RE: VIN#[XXX], THE VEHICLE WAS DEAD EVERY MORNING. IN RE: VIN#[XXX], THE DOOR LOCKS WERE SLOW TO OPEN WITH THE REMOTE (TWICE) AND THE SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF. THERE WAS ALSO AN A/C PROBLEM. *SC *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Jan 22, 2003

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

ABS TONE RING CORRODES CAUSING UNINTENDEClosed
ODI INITIATED PE02-061 BASED ON TWO REPORTED INCIDENTS IN WHICH FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRAL ABS TONE RINGS HAD EXPERIENCED INCREASED VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.INTEGRAL TONE RINGS INCORPORATE THE ABS TONE RING INTO THE BRAKE ROTOR TO FORM A ONE-PIECE INTEGRATED COMONENT.FREIGHTLINER HAS IDENTIFIED 266 WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR CORRODED ROTORS.SINCE THE ABS TONE RING IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE ROTOR IN THE AFFECTED FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES, CORRODED ROTOR SENSOR TEETH MAY COMPROMISE THE QUAILITY OF THE ABS TONE RING SIGNAL TO THE ABS ECU.A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FREIGHTINER WARRANTY CLAIMS INDICATE THAT HE TONE RING CONDITION WAS DISCOVERED BY SERVICING MECHANICS WHO WERE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE FOR THE ILLUMINATED ABS WARNING LIGHT.ODI IS CONCERNED AS TO (1) WHETHER VEHICLE OPEERAOTRS ARE SUFFICIENTLY COGNIZANT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED IN A…
PE02061 · opened Aug 7, 2002 · closed Dec 11, 2002