2000 Freightliner Sterling recalls and problems

The 2000 Freightliner Sterling has 4 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

How the 2000 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

4recalls
0complaints
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
—median 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

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).

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).

Suspension

May 14, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V167002 · 222 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Heavy duty trucks equipped with chalmers 1000 and 800 series suspension kits. These suspension kits May have insufficient penetration of the weld attaching the torque rod eye to the torque rod tube.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CHALMERS 1000 AND 800 SERIES SUSPENSION KITS. THESE SUSPENSION KITS MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT PENETRATION OF THE WELD ATTACHING THE TORQUE ROD EYE TO THE TORQUE ROD TUBE.

Risk: Failure of the weld could result in separation of the eye and tube, causing a lock of axle retention, which could result in loss of vehicle control.

Original NHTSA wording

FAILURE OF THE WELD COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE EYE AND TUBE, CAUSING A LOCK OF AXLE RETENTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace all chalmers fixed torque rods on these vehicles. Owner notification began March 14, 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

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).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

NHTSA investigations

ABS CORROSION EXTENDS STOPPING DIST

EA02036 · opened Dec 11, 2002 · closed Jan 26, 2004
Summary

THE TONE RING TOOTH PROFILE OF AN UNCOATED HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKE DEGRADES AFTER EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENTS.WHEN THE TONE RING TOOTH PROFILE HAS DEGRADED IN FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES RELIABLY TO WARN THE OPERATOR TO HAVE THE ABS SYSTEM SERVICED.IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INQUIRY, FREIGHTLINER HAS ISSUED INFORMATION TO ALL AFFECTED OWNERS THAT ALERTS OWNERS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONDING TO THE ILLUMINATED ABS WARNING LIGHT.FREIGHTLINER ADOPTED COATED ROTORS DURING 2002 (DATE VARIES BY MODEL). SINCE NEITHER ODI NOR FREIGHTLINER HAVE ACCURATE DATA TO FORECAST THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF COATED ROTORS, ODI PLANS TO CONDUCT A FUTURE SURVEY AT FREIGHTLINER (IN 18-24 MONTHS) TO EVALUATE THE DURABILITY OF THE COATED ROTORS.

2000 vs. other Freightliner Sterling years

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

Questions

Does the 2000 Freightliner Sterling have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2000 Freightliner Sterling, 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 Sterling?

Few complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Freightliner Sterling.