2001 Freightliner FS-65 recalls and problems

The 2001 Freightliner FS-65 has 4 recalls and 12 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is fuel system.

How the 2001 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 4 FS-65 model years — 2nd most.

4recalls

12complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

56,581median 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.

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4 recalls

Fuel System

Apr 27, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V205000 · 16,000 vehicles

Problem: Certain 1998-2003 my Freightliner fs-65 school bus chassis and mb-45, mb-55, and xb shuttle bus chassis, and thomas built bus: Mvp-er and mvp-ef school bus and non-school bus models equipped with cummins isb diesel engines and equipped with federal-mogal 12 and 24 volt fuel lift pumps. The fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN 1998-2003 MY FREIGHTLINER FS-65 SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS AND MB-45, MB-55, AND XB SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS, AND THOMAS BUILT BUS: MVP-ER AND MVP-EF SCHOOL BUS AND NON-SCHOOL BUS MODELS EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES AND EQUIPPED WITH FEDERAL-MOGAL 12 AND 24 VOLT FUEL LIFT PUMPS. THE FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL TO TRANSFER FUEL APPROPRIATELY CREATING AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.

Risk: Should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.

Original NHTSA wording

SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy & notes

Cummins will notify the customers of Freightliner and thomas built and replace the fuel lift pump free of charge. Owners May contact cummins at 1-800-DIESELS.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Service Brakes

Jul 12, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V343000 · 3,200 vehicles

Problem: On certain school buses chassis equipped with caterpillar engines and hydraulic brakes. A braided ground strap for the starter May rub on a steel chassis brake line potentially causing a fluid leak.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES. A BRAIDED GROUND STRAP FOR THE STARTER MAY RUB ON A STEEL CHASSIS BRAKE LINE POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FLUID LEAK.

Risk: A brake fluid leak can reduce braking effectiveness and increase the stopping distance, which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

A BRAKE FLUID LEAK CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the brake line and replace it, if necessary. The braided ground strap will be replaced with an insulated cable. The recall began on August 10, 2004. Owners May contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

Freightliner recall no. Fl-421.also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Apr 2, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V084000 · 16,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain school buses, the brake hoses from the chassis to front brake chambers could develop leaks due to the hose routing that could overstress the hose during sharp turns.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES, THE BRAKE HOSES FROM THE CHASSIS TO FRONT BRAKE CHAMBERS COULD DEVELOP LEAKS DUE TO THE HOSE ROUTING THAT COULD OVERSTRESS THE HOSE DURING SHARP TURNS.

Risk: The vehicle could have reduced braking capacity, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE REDUCED BRAKING CAPACITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect for improper routing. If improper routing is found, dealers will replace and correct the hose routing. Owner notification began April 29, 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.

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

Electrical System

Jun 26, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V215000 · 8,753 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Bus chassis vehicles. An electrical pass-through connector May not fit in the firewall mounting hole correctly, resulting in the connector dislodging and an electrical terminal contacting the firewall.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BUS CHASSIS VEHICLES. AN ELECTRICAL PASS-THROUGH CONNECTOR MAY NOT FIT IN THE FIREWALL MOUNTING HOLE CORRECTLY, RESULTING IN THE CONNECTOR DISLODGING AND AN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONTACTING THE FIREWALL.

Risk: This can cause an electrical short and potential fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND POTENTIAL FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect vehicles for proper mounting of the electrical pass through and correct if necessary. Owner notification began October 9, 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).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

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

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

FRONT AIR BRAKE HOSE LEAKAGE

PE02024 · opened Feb 22, 2002 · closed Mar 25, 2002 · led to recall 02V084000

Summary

There is no summary currently available

2001 vs. other Freightliner FS-65 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2001. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2001 Freightliner FS-65 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2001 Freightliner FS-65, the latest from Apr 27, 2005 (fuel system). 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 2001 Freightliner FS-65?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention fuel system (8), service brakes (3), electrical system (2). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.