FREIGHTLINER Complaints

2007 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA DASH BOARD INSTRUMENT UNIT OWN TRUCK FOR 3 YEARS AND I AM ON MY 3RD ONE, AND LOW VOLTGE SHUT DOWN, SHUTS DOWN ALL NON PRIMARY ELECTRICAL STUFF, THEY FREIGHTLINER DISCONNECTED IT AND ITS NEVER BEEN FIX, CAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, I THINK THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR TRUCK. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER WITH THE 2.7 DIESEL MOTOR. I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES OF THE TURBO RESONATOR THAT IS A CHEAP PLASTIC PART THAT WILL FAIL REPEATEDLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO "LIMP" MODE WITH LOSS OF POWER THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT MANY FAILURES OF THIS PART ARE COMMON AND THE MERCEDES FACTORY WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FREIGHTLINER TRADE WIND (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERATIVE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

THE MIAMI OKLAHOMA FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A TRACTOR-TRAILER FIRE ON INTERSTATE 44. DURING THE SUPPRESSION ATTEMPT ONE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS FELL FROM THE BRIDGE AND SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY WHICH HAS LEFT HIM PERMANENTLY INCAPACITATED. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IN FIRE WAS A 2000 FREIGHTLINER FLD TT. AN INVESTIGATION ORDERED BY GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE CONCLUDED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM A FAILED PASSENGER SIDE STEERING AXLE WHEEL BEARING. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH FOUND THIS VEHICLE WAS POTENTIALLY ONE OF INVESTIGATION BY ODI. THIS INCIDENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY FREIGHTLINER, ARVIN-MENTOR AND SKF BEARINGS. BASED ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAYED BY ODI THERE IS NO CONFIRMATION THIS INCIDENT WITH INJURY HAS BEEN REPORTED AND THE INFORMATION CANNOT BE ACCESSED ONLINE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS IN FACT SUBJECT TO RECALL. GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE HAS ALLEGED THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN SALVAGED AND NOT AVAILABLE FOR INVESTIGATION NOR IS THERE AN INDICATION THEY HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO NHTSA. *TR

I HAVE CARBON MONOXIDE IN MY 2006 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA WITH A MERCEDES MOTOR. I HAVE BLACK SOOT THAT IS IN MY VENTS ALL THE TIME, I HAVE CONSTANT HEADACHES WHEN IN THE TRUCK AND AM TIRED, ALONG WITH OTHER THINGS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVER FELT A RUMBLE AND THUMP COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER, BUT THE WHEEL BEARINGS BECAME LOOSE. AS A RESULT, THE WHEEL WAS HANGING ON THE STEERING SPINDLE, THE BRAKES WERE HANGING IN PIECES, AND THE AIR LINE FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE PLASTIC ACCESS PANEL FAILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER AND REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V112000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 910,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 900,000. UPDATED 07/14/09.*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE MISSED THE RECALL BY 4 WEEKS AND A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS THE SAME HUB UNIT THAT WAS RECALLED AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 07/16/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V024000. HOWEVER, THE SAME CHASSIS ARE STILL RECEIVING WATER INSIDE THEM FROM THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER BOARD. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IT CAN SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 JUST WEST OF PALM SPRINGS CLIMBING A HILL WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE TURBO RESONATOR HAD FAILED, CAUSING LACK OF ENGINE POWER. MY VAN SUDDENLY SLOWED FROM 70 MPH TO 35 MPH. TRAFFIC FROM BEHIND ME HAD TO REACT QUICKLY TO PASS ME. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO A DODGE DEALER, AND PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT TURBO RESONATOR. THE OLD ONE HAD A SPLIT IN IT, WHICH I FOUND WAS COMMON BASED ON A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET. THE COST OF THE PART WAS ABOUT $100 AND I WAS ABLE TO REPLACE IT -- AGAIN BASED ON INSTRUCTIONS FOUND ON THE INTERNET. I STILL HAVE THE OLD DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES BROKE, CAUSING A BREAKDOWN, TOW AND REPAIR. LOSS OF FUEL ALSO. LINES WERE REPLACED AT AUTHORIZED DEALER WITH WHAT WAS AVAILABLE. THIS BREAKDOWN NOT INCLUDING FUEL LOSS RESULTED IN A LOST DAY AND $700 COSTS. 3 MONTHS LATER, WE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE LINES AGAIN. THE NOTICE SAYS WE COULD QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT, BUT WHEN I CALLED DETROIT DIESEL, THEY SAID NO. SEEMS THAT DEFECTIVE LINES WERE THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME FRAME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLAT BED TRUCK. A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LEAK SPRAYED DIESEL GASOLINE ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.