2000 Freightliner Business Class recalls and problems

The 2000 Freightliner Business Class has 9 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is wheels.

How the 2000 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

9recalls

1complaints

1crashes

0fires

0injuries

102,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

9 recalls

Trailer Hitches

Jun 17, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V227000 · 2,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: If left undetected or corrected it could lead to the separation of the fifth wheel top plate from its mounting structure, possibly resulting in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF LEFT UNDETECTED OR CORRECTED IT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TOP PLATE FROM ITS MOUNTING STRUCTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

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 receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact jost International at 616-846-7700 or by email to recall@jostinternational.com or Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

Freightliner recall no. Fl-411.also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Suspension

Mar 21, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V112000 · 5,716 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Seizure of the bearings can cause wheel separation or wheel end fire.

Original NHTSA wording

SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.

Remedy & notes

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 the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

Freightliner recall no. Fl-407.customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Parking Brake

Apr 10, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V108001 · 548 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Improper engagement of the parking brake could result in the vehicle rolling away without prior warning possibly resulting in personal injury or death.

Original NHTSA wording

IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy & notes

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 service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Jun 14, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V189001 · 4,400 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: When the valve sticks open, it can result in a total loss of air from either the service or the park brake system. The driver May lose braking ability under a service application, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

WHEN THE VALVE STICKS OPEN, IT CAN RESULT IN A TOTAL LOSS OF AIR FROM EITHER THE SERVICE OR THE PARK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DRIVER MAY LOSE BRAKING ABILITY UNDER A SERVICE APPLICATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

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 time should contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Nov 3, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V357000 · 105,000 vehicles

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

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD THAT ACTIVATES THE SERVICE BRAKES COULD FRACTURE.

Risk: This could result in a loss of braking control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the brake pedal push rod.

Owner notification was mailed in phases.dual steering vehicle owners were notified beginning November 6, 2000.owners of construction, refuse, fire, and rescue/emergency vehicles were notified November 7, 2000; and all others were notified December 15, 2000. 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 time should contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Power Train

Aug 17, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V229001 · 594 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This could cause non-engagement of the park pawl when the transmission shift selector is moved to the park position, resulting in unintended vehicle movement and a vehicle crash without prior warning.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE NON-ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARK PAWL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SELECTOR IS MOVED TO THE PARK POSITION, RESULTING IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy & notes

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 notification is expected to begin during September 2000. 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 time should contact allison at 1-800-252-5283 or Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Aug 7, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V232002 · 35,405 vehicles

Problem: 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 type of erratic sensor signal.

Original NHTSA wording

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 TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.

Risk: This condition could cause the ABS ECU to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the ABS ECU.

Owner notification began August 29, 2000, to school buses and emergency vehicle customers. Owners of the remaining population were sent letters on September 9, 2000. 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 time should contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Wheels

Jul 10, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V190001 · 143 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Over time, the crack could propagate and if not heeded, could result in mounting ring failure, potentially causing the rim to separate from the vehicle.

Original NHTSA wording

OVER TIME, THE CRACK COULD PROPAGATE AND IF NOT HEEDED, COULD RESULT IN MOUNTING RING FAILURE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE RIM TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy & notes

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

Accuride began notifying owners on June 20, 2000. 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 time should contact accuride customer servie at 1-812-962-5027.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Suspension

Mar 17, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V081000 · 13,545 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: If undetected, the rear end of the spring could separate from the vehicle causing a hazardous road debris situation.

Original NHTSA wording

IF UNDETECTED, THE REAR END OF THE SPRING COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING A HAZARDOUS ROAD DEBRIS SITUATION.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owner notification began August 7, 2000.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 time should contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Wheels1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

2000 vs. other Freightliner Business Class years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2000. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2000 Freightliner Business Class have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns covering the 2000 Freightliner Business Class, the latest from Jun 17, 2003 (trailer hitches). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Freightliner Business Class?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention wheels (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.