U.S. public vehicle records

Freightliner BUSINESS CLASS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

13 owner complaints analyzed

18 distinct recall campaigns

57,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1991 to 2003 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 8 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 13 complaints (7.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	2	15.4%
Engine operation	1	7.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System

Fuel System, Diesel

Parking Brake

Power Train:Clutch Assembly

Service Brakes, Air:Controls

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	1
Fuel System, Diesel	1
Parking Brake	1
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	1
Service Brakes, Air:Controls	1

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Fuel System, Diesel: 1; Parking Brake: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 1; Service Brakes, Air:Controls: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001

2003

2005

2006

2007

2010

2013

2015

2017

2001: 2; 2003: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 2; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10010528 · 2003-03-15 (March 15, 2003)

LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE PADS, LOCKED UP CALIPERS, ACTUAL LOSS OF WHEEL CALIPERS WHEN BACKING UP, INCONSISTANT BRAKE WEAR, EQUALIZER WARNING SWITCH N/A FOR MASTER CYLINDER, DATE LISTED IS FIRST OCCURANCE, ALMOST WENT OVER STEEP 40 FOOT DROPOFF DUE TO SWITCH N/A IN MOUNTAINS ON SLICK ROAD. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010528 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 884345 · 2001-03-27 (March 27, 2001)

BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKING UP INTERMITTENTLY, AND ABS LIGHT WOULD MOMENTARILY STAY ON. ALSO, ENGINE STALLS WHENEVER ON A DEEP INCLINE; VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEMS STILL REOCCURRING. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON AN INCLINE FOR IT TO STALL, IT JUST LOSES POWER. CONSUMER STATES CAB IS NOISY. CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884345 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

1991: 2; 1992: 2; 1993: 2; 1994: 3; 1995: 4; 1996: 5; 1997: 6; 1998: 5; 1999: 5; 2000: 9; 2001: 6; 2002: 5; 2003: 1

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Freightliner BUSINESS CLASS model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1991	0	2	Not available
1992	0	2	0
1993	0	2	0
1994	0	3	+1
1995	2	4	+1
1996	0	5	+1
1997	2	6	+1
1998	0	5	-1
1999	1	5	0
2000	1	9	+4
2001	0	6	-3
2002	0	5	-1
2003	7	1	-4

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

13 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

61.5%Usable mileage8 / 13 records

100.0%Valid incident date13 / 13 records

100.0%Valid filing date13 / 13 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates13 / 13 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 888170 BRACKET WHICH SECURES ALTERNATOR TO ENGINE KEEPS SHEARING OFF THE BOLTS. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS WITHIN TEN MONTHS. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. BUT, NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME.AK CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT A NEW CASING OR HAVE HOLES RE-DRILLED.JB Look up ODI 888170 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 884345 BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKING UP INTERMITTENTLY, AND ABS LIGHT WOULD MOMENTARILY STAY ON. ALSO, ENGINE STALLS WHENEVER ON A DEEP INCLINE; VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEMS STILL REOCCURRING. AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON AN INCLINE FOR IT TO STALL, IT JUST LOSES POWER. CONSUMER STATES CAB IS NOISY. CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. SLC Look up ODI 884345 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	114.3% ODI 10196320 · 137,336 mi WHILE DRIVING 2003 FRIEGHTLINER SPRINTER ON TWO OCCASIONS WAS OVERCOME WITH NOXIOUS FUMES, RESULTING IN CARBON MONOXIDE POSIONING THAT REQURIED A EMERGENCY VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL. VAN HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AND CONTINUES TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMPANY VAN . Look up ODI 10196320 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	114.3% ODI 10341670 · 50,000 mi TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BUSINESS CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR THE NHTSA RECALL, CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V418000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE EGR ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000. Look up ODI 10341670 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Diesel	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	114.3% ODI 10533306 · 5,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FREIGHT LINER M2 BUSINESS CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, GASOLINE LEAKED FROM THE TRUCK AND ONTO THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE HIGHER PRESSURE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000....UPDATED 09/18//13 *BF Look up ODI 10533306 at NHTSA ↗
Parking Brake	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10010528 · 65,000 mi LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE PADS, LOCKED UP CALIPERS, ACTUAL LOSS OF WHEEL CALIPERS WHEN BACKING UP, INCONSISTANT BRAKE WEAR, EQUALIZER WARNING SWITCH N/A FOR MASTER CYLINDER, DATE LISTED IS FIRST OCCURANCE, ALMOST WENT OVER STEEP 40 FOOT DROPOFF DUE TO SWITCH N/A IN MOUNTAINS ON SLICK ROAD. *NLM Look up ODI 10010528 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 884345 BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKING UP INTERMITTENTLY, AND ABS LIGHT WOULD MOMENTARILY STAY ON. ALSO, ENGINE STALLS WHENEVER ON A DEEP INCLINE; VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEMS STILL REOCCURRING. AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON AN INCLINE FOR IT TO STALL, IT JUST LOSES POWER. CONSUMER STATES CAB IS NOISY. CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. SLC Look up ODI 884345 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Air:Controls	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10141065 CONSUMER COMPLAINT REQUESTING RECALL PARTS TO HAVE RECALL COMPLETED ON VEHICLE. TS RECALL#00V357000. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAS TWO OTHER VOLVO TRUCKS RELATED TO THE RECALL. JB Look up ODI 10141065 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger	Too few reports for a range	137,336 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10196320 · 137,336 mi WHILE DRIVING 2003 FRIEGHTLINER SPRINTER ON TWO OCCASIONS WAS OVERCOME WITH NOXIOUS FUMES, RESULTING IN CARBON MONOXIDE POSIONING THAT REQURIED A EMERGENCY VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL. VAN HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AND CONTINUES TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMPANY VAN . Look up ODI 10196320 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	Too few reports for a range	50,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10341670 · 50,000 mi TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BUSINESS CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR THE NHTSA RECALL, CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V418000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE EGR ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000. Look up ODI 10341670 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Diesel	Too few reports for a range	5,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10533306 · 5,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FREIGHT LINER M2 BUSINESS CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, GASOLINE LEAKED FROM THE TRUCK AND ONTO THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE HIGHER PRESSURE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000....UPDATED 09/18//13 *BF Look up ODI 10533306 at NHTSA ↗
Parking Brake	Too few reports for a range	65,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10010528 · 65,000 mi LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE PADS, LOCKED UP CALIPERS, ACTUAL LOSS OF WHEEL CALIPERS WHEN BACKING UP, INCONSISTANT BRAKE WEAR, EQUALIZER WARNING SWITCH N/A FOR MASTER CYLINDER, DATE LISTED IS FIRST OCCURANCE, ALMOST WENT OVER STEEP 40 FOOT DROPOFF DUE TO SWITCH N/A IN MOUNTAINS ON SLICK ROAD. *NLM Look up ODI 10010528 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2002: 0 complaints · 2003: 3 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2002	0	0	0
2003	0	2	3

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2002	0	0	0
2003	7	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger	Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	Fuel System, Diesel	Parking Brake	Power Train:Clutch Assembly	Service Brakes, Air:Controls
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	—	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 884345 BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKING UP INTERMITTENTLY, AND ABS LIGHT WOULD MOMENTARILY STAY ON. ALSO, ENGINE STALLS WHENEVER ON A DEEP INCLINE; VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEMS STILL REOCCURRING. AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON AN INCLINE FOR IT TO STALL, IT JUST LOSES POWER. CONSUMER STATES CAB IS NOISY. CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. SLC Look up ODI 884345 at NHTSA ↗	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Fuel System, Diesel	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Parking Brake	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	0	1 ODI 884345 BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKING UP INTERMITTENTLY, AND ABS LIGHT WOULD MOMENTARILY STAY ON. ALSO, ENGINE STALLS WHENEVER ON A DEEP INCLINE; VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEMS STILL REOCCURRING. AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON AN INCLINE FOR IT TO STALL, IT JUST LOSES POWER. CONSUMER STATES CAB IS NOISY. CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. SLC Look up ODI 884345 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	—	0
Service Brakes, Air:Controls	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 7.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 884345

Look up ODI 884345 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b