2000 Freightliner BUSINESS CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls

ON AUGUST 22, 2017, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-55 NEAR LITCHFIELD, ILLINOIS. A SEMI TRUCK OWNED BY ARNOLD JAMES KNAGGS OF CARSONVILLE, MICHIGAN, WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND. AT APPROXIMATELY NOON ON THAT DATE, TWO WHEELS DETACHED FROM THAT TRUCK. ONE WHEEL CAME TO REST IN THE WIDE GRASSY MEDIAN; THE OTHER WHEEL BARRELED ACROSS THE MEDIAN AND STRUCK THE MINIVAN IN WHICH MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING. ALL WINDOWS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHATTERED AND THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR WAS RIPPED OFF THE VEHICLE. HE VAN WAS TOTALED. IF …

Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024869 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-03-17 (March 17, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH DUAL LEAF SPRING TYPE AIR RIDE SUSPENSIONS AND VEHICLES BUILT WITH SINGLE LEAF SPRING TYPE AIR RIDE SUSPENSIONS. REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS CAN FRACTURE THROUGH THE CENTER BOLT HOLE AFTER VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: IF UNDETECTED, THE REAR END OF THE SPRING COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING A HAZARDOUS ROAD DEBRIS SITUATION.

Remedy: FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SINGLE LEAF SPRINGS, DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL SPRINGS. FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DUAL LEAF SPRINGS, DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKED SPRINGS AND REPLACE IF CRACKED.

Reported: 2000-07-10 (July 10, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ACCURIDE 22.5 X 8.25 15 TUBELESS DEMOUNTABLE RIMS, PART NO. 32051. CERTAIN RIMS CONTAIN A NON-FUSION AREA IN THE BUTT-WELD OF THE MOUNTING RING. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DEFECT COULD DEVELOP INTO A CRACK ON THE MOUNTING RING.

Consequence: OVER TIME, THE CRACK COULD PROPAGATE AND IF NOT HEEDED, COULD RESULT IN MOUNTING RING FAILURE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE RIM TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: ACCURIDE WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE OR SUSPECT WHEEL RIMS.

Reported: 2000-08-17 (August 17, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, SHUTTLE BUSES, TRANSIT BUSES AND STEP VANS EQUIPPED WITH ALLISON 1000 OR 2400 SERIES TRANSMISSIONS. THESE TRANSMISSIONS CAN EXPERIENCE PARK PAWL TO REAR COVER INTERFERENCE DUE TO AN OUT OF FLATNESS CONDITION.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE NON-ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARK PAWL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SELECTOR IS MOVED TO THE PARK POSITION, RESULTING IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: ALLISON TRANSMISSION IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE VEHICLE, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL, AND REINSTALL THE TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 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 ALLISON AT 1-800-252-5283 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

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.

Consequence: 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: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

Reported: 2000-11-03 (November 3, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD THAT ACTIVATES THE SERVICE BRAKES COULD FRACTURE.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD.

Reported: 2001-06-14 (June 14, 2001)

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.

Consequence: 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: 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.

Reported: 2002-04-10 (April 10, 2002)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR BRAND 12" X 4" DCM DRUM PARKING BRAKE, THE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FLANGE YOKE ARE TOO LARGE AND CAN INTERFERE WITH THE PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY DISENGAGE.

Consequence: IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ATTACHING BOLTS WITH THE CORRECT SIZE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 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.

Reported: 2003-03-21 (March 21, 2003)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.

Consequence: SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 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 FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)

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.

Consequence: 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: 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 [email protected] OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.