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2001 Freightliner Classic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

6 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2006
Tires

2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC LEFT FRONT STEER TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE LEFT FENDER, BUMPER AND HOOD WERE DAMAGED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10155158

73,000 miles · Sep 8, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10091562

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2004
Structure

NO ACCIDENT - NO EVENT - JUST NORMAL DRIVING - STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE CAB UNIT - CLASS 8 VEHICLE - NOW UNSAFE - NOT ROAD WORTHY - 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE - MANUFACTURER AWARE OF PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WITH SAME DAMAGES TO STRUCTURE - NOT WILLING TO REPAIR UNIT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10072535

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE TURBO CHARGER ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE, THE LIQUID DRIPPED THROUGH THE PIPE WHICH CAUSED FUMES TO ESCAPE INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10007220

92,000 miles · Feb 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE TURBO CHARGER ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE, THE LIQUID DRIPPED THROUGH THE PIPES WHICH CAUSED FUMES TO ESCAPE IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10007219

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2002
Electrical SystemSuspension

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

NHTSA ODI #786471

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE02088 · Integral Hub And Bearing Assembly

Opened Nov 22, 2002 · Closed May 1, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels

FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD TO FREIGHTLINER IN THE AFTERMARKET. ODI NOTES THAT THERE ARE TWOINTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES PER FRONT AXLE.FREIGHTLINER IDENTIFIED VEHICLES INCLUDINGFREIGHTLINER,STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR BRAND NAME AS BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Wheels

FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD TO FREIGHTLINER IN THE AFTERMARKET. ODI NOTES THAT THERE ARE TWOINTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES PER FRONT AXLE.FREIGHTLINER IDENTIFIED VEHICLES INCLUDINGFREIGHTLINER,STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR BRAND NAME AS BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

Wheels

FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD TO FREIGHTLINER IN THE AFTERMARKET. ODI NOTES THAT THERE ARE TWOINTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES PER FRONT AXLE.FREIGHTLINER IDENTIFIED VEHICLES INCLUDINGFREIGHTLINER,STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR BRAND NAME AS BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

Wheels

FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD TO FREIGHTLINER IN THE AFTERMARKET. ODI NOTES THAT THERE ARE TWOINTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES PER FRONT AXLE.FREIGHTLINER IDENTIFIED VEHICLES INCLUDINGFREIGHTLINER,STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR BRAND NAME AS BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.