FREIGHTLINER Complaints

A CRACK WAS DISCOVERED ABOVE THE DIFFERENTIALS ON THE CHASSIS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

2002 SPRINTER MADE BY DAIMLER-CHYRSLER. WE BOUGHT 6 OF THESE VANS AND TWO OF THEM HAVE HAD THE CONTROL ARM FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BREAK OFF AT THE STEERING COLUMN. FRIEGHTLINER(AKA DAIMLER-CHRYLSER) SAY THAT IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS THE GEAR SHIFT. WELL, I AM SORRY, THIS CONFUSION HAPPENS IN MANY CARS, BUT THE CONTROL ARM DOESN'T JUST BREAK OFF. POOR DESIGN OR MATERIALS. THIS HUMAN BEHAVIOR WILL NOT CHANGE, THIS ARM SHOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THIS OCCASSIONAL CONFUSION. THIS,HOWEVER, WAS NOT THE CASE WITH OUR TWO VEHICLES PURCHASED IN AUG, 2002.

CONSUMER STATED THE ROOF LEAKS AND CAUSES UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE ROOF LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. THE WATER DROPS INTO THE INTERIOR, ONTO THE DRIVERS CLOTHES, SEAT, STEERING WHEEL, AND VISION, MAKING IT WET AND IMPAIRED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO SEEK HELP FROM THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER WITHOUT SUCCESS, AND BELIEVES THE ROOFING SYSTEM IS UNFIT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT END WOULD WONDER CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED REPORT ON A TOTAL OF 5 FAILURES, ODI NUMBER 762991 ON 6/12/2002. SINCE THAT POINT WE HAVE HAD AN ADDITIONAL 14 FAILURES, AND 1 MORE ACCIDENT. TRW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAS NOT MADE ANY EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, [XXX]. BILL OF TRIDENT ENGINEERING IN ANNAPOLIS, MD HAS ADVISED US WE SHOULD REPORT EACH FAILURE. HE FEELS THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS "LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS, USUALLY (BUT NOT ALWAYS) AT LOW SPEEDS". THE PROBLEMS SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE SUBJECT OF THE RECENT GM RECALL. OTHER FAILURES INCLUDE OUR UNIT 3612 - 2001 FREIGHT -[XXX] FAILED 07/24/02;OUR UNIT 3624-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 06/22/02; OUR UNIT 3728-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 07/25/02;OUR UNIT 3729-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 07/12/02;OUR UNIT 3956-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 08/18/02; OUR UNIT 3650-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 09/14/02; OUR UNIT 3568-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX] FAILED 09/21/02;OUR UNIT 3626-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX] FAILED10/05/02;OUR UNIT 3681-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED10/06/02;OUR UNIT 3749-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX]-10/23/02;OUR UNIT 3776-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX]-10/25/02;OUR UNIT 3827-2001 FREIGHT -[XXX]-10/26/02. WE ARE ALSO AWARE OF APPROXIMATELY 15 ADDITIONAL FAILURES AT MISSISSIPPI FAST FREIGHT, ANOTHER MOTOR CARRIER. IN ALL 19 OF OUR FAILURES THE DRIVERS CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT TURN LEFT. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FAILURES AT THE OTHER CARRIER WERE THE SAME. DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLY RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (FREIGHTLINER FLD132064T 2001). NLM

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS ROUTED SO THAT IT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE REAR AIR SPRING SUSPENSION. OVER TIME THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE BURNED A HOLE IN AIR SPRING BAG. IN OUR CASE THE FAILURE WAS NOT CASTASTROPHIC. WE WERE PARKED AND AIR LOSS WAS SLOW. I HAVE CONCERNS THAT UNDER DRIVING CONDITIONS THE AIR LOSS COULD HAVE BEEN MORE RAPID AND HANDLING COMPROMISED. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE ROUTING AND THE FAILED COMPONENT. M

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEPARATION OF THE DRIVE LINE WHERE IT'S BOLTED ONTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE BOLTS SHEARED OFF CAUSING DRIVE LINE TO DROP, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FRAME, BODY AND EXHAUST SYSTEM.

2 NUTS ON TORQUE ARM CAME OFF, RESULTING IN 2 AIR BAGS LOSING COVER AND DEFLATING/ REAR END OF VEHICLE SHIFTING 2-3INCHES, AND REAR PASSENGER TIRE RUBBING AGAINST FRAME OF THE SHOCK BRACKET, AND THEN BLOWING OUT.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE WAS PULLED OVER BY A STATE TROOPER, DUE TO VISIBLE SPARKS ON THE ROADWAY FROM THE TIRES BEING STUCK UNDER TRAILER AXLE, BOTH TIRES WERE FLAT.(NO OTHER TIRE INFO GIVEN)(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB