FREIGHTLINER Complaints

THE REAR VELVET RIDE SUSPENSION BOLTS SNAPPED. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. RECALL#03E060000. *JB

ROSEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATES A FLEET OF 26 BUSES COVERING APPROX. 1000 SQUARE MILES IN AREA. IN 1999 ROSEAU SCHOOLS BEGAN PURCHASING BUSES WITH THE CUMMINS ISB ENGINES (AN ALL ELECTRONIC ENGINE REPLACING THE OLDER "B" ENGINES). THE DISTRICT NOW HAS 8 UNITS WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH SENSORS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON AND POWER DERATING WHEN OPERATING THESE ENGINES. A COMMON PROBLEM IS LIFT PUMP FAILURE CAUSING RETOACTIVE FAILURE TO THE INJECTION PUMP (CUMMINS NAME FOR THE INJECTION PUMP IS THE VP44 PUMP). WHEN PUMP FAILURE OCCURS A NUMBER OF THINGS MAY HAPPEN - EITHER THE ENGINE MAY GO INTO THE LIMP MODE WHICH WILL LET THE ENGINE STILL RUN BUT UNDER RESTRICTED POWER, THE ENGINE MAY LOSE POWER AND WITHIN SECONDS RETURN TO FULL POWER OR THE ENGINE MAY JUST STOP AND NOT RESTART. IN THE SCHOOL BUSING INDUSTRY ANY OF THESE TYPE OF FAILURES COULD PRESENT ITSELF AS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FROM THE BUS SLOWING DOWN AND BEING REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE LOSS OF POWER WHEN BRAKING OR TURNING CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES OR POWER STEERING, THE LOSS OF POWER CAUSING STALLING OF THE UNIT IN AN INTERSECTION OR WORSE YET WHEN GOING ACROSS A RAILROAD INTERSECTION. IN OUR SITUATION IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA WE ARE SOMETIMES RUNNING IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES (THIS PAST WEEK AS COLD AS -40 DEGREES BELOW 0). A STRANDED SCHOOL BUS OF KIDS IN THOSE TEMPERATURES COULD CREATE REAL PROBLEMS. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN OR IN SOME CASES HAS ALREADY HAPPENED. OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK

WHEN IT RAINS WATER COMES IN ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE WATER COMES IN THROUGH THE DRIP PAN, PER A GLASS COMPANY. DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY.*AK

TRACTOR FAILURE, TIE ROD AND KING PINS AND BEARINGS WERE ALL IN POOR CONDITION. *BF *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WAS ALTERED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHO DISABLED THE FULL RECLINE. AS A RESULT THERE WAS A GREATER CHANCE OF WHIPLASH, SPINAL INJURY OR DRIVER EJECTION FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS ABOUT EXECUTIVE ORDERS DEALING WITH ERGONOMIC WORKPLACE SAFETY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

(1) POOR ENGINEERING. (2) FRONT AXEL RATED CAPACITY IS INADEQUATE FOR VEHICLE (3) FREIGHTLINER SPECIALITY VEHICLES ADVISED OF SAFTEY ISSUE 06/04/04, & FREIGHTLINER ON 09/08/04. THEY HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION TO DATE. *AK

(1) DESIGN (2) PARKING BRAKE ALLOWS VEHICLE TO MOVE AS MUCH AS 4 INCHES AFTER SETTING. UNABLE TO HOOK-UP TRAILER WITHOUT 2 PEOPLE. DAMAGED HITCH. (3) FREIGHTLINER CLAIMS IT CAN NOT BE FIXED.*AK

THIS IS RELATED TO THE DIAMLER CHRYSLER DODGE SPRINTER TIRE VALVE STEMS THAT I READ YOU ARE INVESTIGATING. I HAVE A 2002 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER (SAME VAN AS THE DODGE MADE BY MERCEDES). MY VAN HAS THE 15"GOODYEAR CARGO TIRES. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH REAR TIRES. OCCASIONALLY, THEY WOULD LOOSE 10-20 PSI PRESSURE. BOTH REAR TIRES HAVE HAD BLOW OUTS IN THE 35-45K MILES RANGE. FROM OTHER DRIVERS, I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE TIRES SHOULD LAST 80-90K MILES. BOTH REAR TIRES HAD SIMILAR FAILURES, DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, PART OF THE THREAD WOULD TEAR OFF THE WHEEL. ALSO, AFTER INSPECTION, IT APPEARED THAT THE TIRES HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE OUTER PART, AS THOUGH THEY RAN WITH INSUFFICIENT PRESSURE. I DID TAKE SOME DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE SECOND TIRE THAT DID THIS, BUT I WAS FOCUSING ON THE UNUSUAL THREAD WEAR. I'D BE HAPPY TO SEND THEM TO YOU. ALSO, I BELIEVE GOODYEAR SHOULD STILL HAVE THE LAST TIRE AS I HAD IT REPLACED ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THE FIRST TIRE FAILED IN MARCH, THE SECOND AROUND THE END OF JUNE. I DID CONTACT GOODYEAR & DC ABOUT THE TIRES, BUT GOT NO RESPONSE FROM EITHER.*AK PE04066_CAT

MICHELIN XRV 235/80R/22.5 TIRE ZIPPER RIPS BLOW OUTS 1ST ONE APRIL 27, 2003 INSIDE LEFT DUEL. 2ND ONE SEPT. 18, 2004 RIGHT FRONT. *AK

ENGINE'S HYDRAULIC PUMP AND FAN FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMOKED BECAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATED. NO FIRE REPORTED. *AK