Illustration2002 FREIGHTLINER SEMI TIRE CAME OFF AND TWO OTHER VEHICLES STUCK THE TIRE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0598-90)*JB
2002 Freightliner Freightliner
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Freightliner years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 7 of 14 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.
- Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reports2002 FREIGHTLINER BUS ENGINE QUIT GOING DOWN HUGE HILL/SMALL MOUNTAIN IN TENNESSEE CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL. FREE WHEELED DOWN MOUNTAIN, TAKING EXIT, RUNNING STOP LIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSING CRASH WITH 30 PAX ON BOARD. ELECTRICAL WIRE FROM FACTORY LOOSE AND CORRODED.
GOODYEAR G328, SIZE 295/75R/22.5 THIS TIRE HAD A LUG PATTERN. ALSO, IT CAUSED LATERAL SWAYING. OWNER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND VEHICLE BECAME TOTALLY UNSTABLE. OWNER REPORTED THIS DEFECT TO THE MOTOR POOL AT FED-X, BUT WAS TOLD TO DEAL WITH IT. *AK
CONSUMER DRIVES A FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER AND THE BRAKE WEAR INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE THE PADS AND ROTORS FOR THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES TWICE. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. ALSO THE PADS ARE THE WRONG SIZE.*AK
BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE PADS AND ROTORS FOR THE REAR AND FRONT BRAKES. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT THE PROPER SIZE.*AK
EXCESSIVE BRAKE FADE IN ALFA SEE YA COACH EQUIPPED WITH FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS WHICH RESULTS IN THE UNIT BEING VERY HARD TO STOP AND NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE UNIT HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB BEING DONE AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK
TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. *PH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER MOTOR HOME OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. FREIGHTLINER AND MICHELIN ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. (XC CHASSIS) *SC
CONSUMER NEEDS INFORMATION ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX A PROBLEM IN REGARDS OF THE VAN'S SEAT. *LA IN RE: VIN#[XXX], THE BACK DOOR DID NOT CLOSE AND THE KEY REMOTE LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE, THE MIRRORS VIBRATED. IN RE: VIN#[XXX], THE VEHICLE WAS DEAD EVERY MORNING. IN RE: VIN#[XXX], THE DOOR LOCKS WERE SLOW TO OPEN WITH…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER NEEDS INFORMATION ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX A PROBLEM IN REGARDS OF THE VAN'S SEAT. *LA IN RE: VIN#[XXX], THE BACK DOOR DID NOT CLOSE AND THE KEY REMOTE LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE, THE MIRRORS VIBRATED. IN RE: VIN#[XXX], THE VEHICLE WAS DEAD EVERY MORNING. IN RE: VIN#[XXX], THE DOOR LOCKS WERE SLOW TO OPEN WITH THE REMOTE (TWICE) AND THE SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF. THERE WAS ALSO AN A/C PROBLEM. *SC *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 38 FOOT ALFA CYA CLASS A MOTOR HOME, MY DRIVERS SIDE POWER OPERATED VISOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE BLACK COLORED (BLACKOUT MATERIAL) BLIND TO FREE SPIN FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND FALL VERTICALLY DOWN TO A FULLY EXTENDED OPEN POSITION BLOCKING MY DRIVERS VIEW OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH. THIS NEARLY CAUS…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 38 FOOT ALFA CYA CLASS A MOTOR HOME, MY DRIVERS SIDE POWER OPERATED VISOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE BLACK COLORED (BLACKOUT MATERIAL) BLIND TO FREE SPIN FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND FALL VERTICALLY DOWN TO A FULLY EXTENDED OPEN POSITION BLOCKING MY DRIVERS VIEW OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH. THIS NEARLY CAUSED A MAJOR MULTIPLE VEHICLE COLLISION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE FAULTY POWER SHADE TO THE MANUFACTURER ALFA LEISURE SPECIFICALLY STEVE WISHEK ALFAS VP, AND THE SELLING DEALER EARNHARDT RV CENTER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN MESA ARIZONA (AN AUTHORIZED ALFA LEISURE DEALER) SHORTLY AFTER THE UNIT WAS PURCHASED. BOTH COMPANIES STATED THEY WERE NOT REPLACING/REPAIRING THE SHADE AND REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE REPLACEMENT OF IT BECAUSE THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE DEVICE. I ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE SHADE BE REPAIR/REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURERS EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY, MBA OF SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA, WHO ALSO REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE SAID DEVICE AFTER HAVING SEVERAL PHONE CALLS WITH ALFA LEISURE AND SENDING AN ADJUSTER OUT TO LOOK AT THE DEVICE ALFA LEISURE'S VICE PRESIDENT STEVE WISHEK, WHOM I SPOKE TO PERSONALLY DURING THIS INITIAL FAILURE, WAS RELUCTANT TO GET INVOLVED AND REFUSED OFFERING TO REPAIR/REPLACE THIS SHADE. SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS WERE IN NEED OF REPAIR AT THIS INITIAL REPORTING, BUT THIS DEVICE WAS NEVER REPLACED OR REPLACED. THIS LATEST FAILURE WAS THE THIRD TIME I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS POWER SHADE, WITH THE OTHER TWO FAILURES CAUSING THE SHADE ONLY TO STICK IN THE CLOSED POSITION. I AM REPORTING THIS DUE TO DANGEROUS POTENTIAL OF DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO OTHER OWNERS OF ALFA LEISURE CYA MOTOR-HOMES AND OTHER DRIVERS WHO MAY GET HIT WITH A 30,000 POUND MOTOR-HOME, SHOULD THE DRIVER LOSE CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE DURING A FAILURE LIKE MINE.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 38 FOOT ALFA CYA CLASS A MOTOR HOME, MY DRIVERS SIDE POWER OPERATED VISOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE BLACK COLORED (BLACKOUT MATERIAL) BLIND TO FREE SPIN FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND FALL VERTICALLY DOWN TO A FULLY EXTENDED OPEN POSITION BLOCKING MY DRIVERS VIEW OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH. THIS NEARLY CAUS…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 38 FOOT ALFA CYA CLASS A MOTOR HOME, MY DRIVERS SIDE POWER OPERATED VISOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE BLACK COLORED (BLACKOUT MATERIAL) BLIND TO FREE SPIN FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND FALL VERTICALLY DOWN TO A FULLY EXTENDED OPEN POSITION BLOCKING MY DRIVERS VIEW OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH. THIS NEARLY CAUSED A MAJOR MULTIPLE VEHICLE COLLISION ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE FAULTY POWER SHADE TO THE MANUFACTURER ALFA LEISURE SPECIFICALLY STEVE WISHEK ALFAS VP, AND THE SELLING DEALER EARNHARDT RV CENTER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN MESA ARIZONA (AN AUTHORIZED ALFA LEISURE DEALER) SHORTLY AFTER THE UNIT WAS PURCHASED. BOTH COMPANIES STATED THEY WERE NOT REPLACING/REPAIRING THE SHADE AND REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE REPLACEMENT OF IT BECAUSE THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE DEVICE. I ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE SHADE BE REPAIR/REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURERS EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY, MBA OF SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA, WHO ALSO REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE SAID DEVICE AFTER HAVING SEVERAL PHONE CALLS WITH ALFA LEISURE AND SENDING AN ADJUSTER OUT TO LOOK AT THE DEVICE ALFA LEISURE'S VICE PRESIDENT STEVE WISHEK, WHOM I SPOKE TO PERSONALLY DURING THIS INITIAL FAILURE, WAS RELUCTANT TO GET INVOLVED AND REFUSED OFFERING TO REPAIR/REPLACE THIS SHADE. SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS WERE IN NEED OF REPAIR AT THIS INITIAL REPORTING, BUT THIS DEVICE WAS NEVER REPLACED OR REPLACED. THIS LATEST FAILURE WAS THE THIRD TIME I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS POWER SHADE, WITH THE OTHER TWO FAILURES CAUSING THE SHADE ONLY TO STICK IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THE PASSENGER SIDE SHADE ALSO FAILED AT A LETER DATE, BUT IN THE CLOSED POSITION. I AM REPORTING THIS DUE TO DANGEROUS POTENTIAL OF DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO OTHER OWNERS OF ALFA LEISURE CYA MOTOR-HOMES AND OTHER DRIVERS WHO MAY GET HIT WITH A 30,000 POUND MOTOR-HOME, SHOULD THE DRIVER LOSE CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE DURING A FAILURE LIKE MINE.*AK
Official recalls
105V207000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Apr 27, 2005
CERTAIN MY 2000-2003 FREIGHTLINER, THOMAS MVP SCHOOL BUS AND WESTERN STARS TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 19, 2000, AND MARCH 30, 2005, AND EQUIPPED WITH WEBASTO COOLANT HEATERS, MODEL DBW 2010, ASSEMBLED WITH WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, P/N 303046/26533A. THE STAINLESS STEEL BURNER TUBE IS MADE OUT OF A MATERIAL THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THE BURNER TUBE FAIL, THE COOLANT HEATER COULD OVERHEAT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE SUBJECT BURNER TUBES WITH NEW CERTIFIED BURNER TUBES AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFICE AT 1-336-889-4871 OR CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
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
1PE02061 · Abs Tone Ring Corrodes Causing Unintende
Opened Aug 7, 2002 · Closed Dec 11, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
ODI INITIATED PE02-061 BASED ON TWO REPORTED INCIDENTS IN WHICH FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRAL ABS TONE RINGS HAD EXPERIENCED INCREASED VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.INTEGRAL TONE RINGS INCORPORATE THE ABS TONE RING INTO THE BRAKE ROTOR TO FORM A ONE-PIECE INTEGRATED COMONENT.FREIGHTLINER HAS IDENTIFIED 266 WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR CORRODED ROTORS.SINCE THE ABS TONE RING IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE ROTOR IN THE AFFECTED FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES, CORRODED ROTOR SENSOR TEETH MAY COMPROMISE THE QUAILITY OF THE ABS TONE RING SIGNAL TO THE ABS ECU.A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FREIGHTINER WARRANTY CLAIMS INDICATE THAT HE TONE RING CONDITION WAS DISCOVERED BY SERVICING MECHANICS WHO WERE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE FOR THE ILLUMINATED ABS WARNING LIGHT.ODI IS CONCERNED AS TO (1) WHETHER VEHICLE OPEERAOTRS ARE SUFFICIENTLY COGNIZANT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED IN A TIMELY MANNER IN RESPONSE TO THE ILLUMINATED ABS WARNING LIGHT SINCE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT IS THE ONLY WARNING PROVIDED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE MAY BE AFFECTED AND (2) QUANTIFYING THE EXTENT TO WHICH STOPPING-DISTANCE IS AFFECTED AND ASSESSING THE ASSOCIATED RISK TO SAFETY. ODI CONDUCTED A PARALLEL INVESTIGATION(PE02-060) OF INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH CORRODED ABS TONE RINGS AT INTERNATIONAL TRUCK.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS CONCLUDED ON NOV 21, 2002 AFTER INTERNATIONAL TRUCK CONCLUDED THAT THE ABS ECU....CAN MISINTERPRET FALSE WHEEL SPEED SIGNALS... AND NOTIFIED NHTSA OF THEIR INTENTION TO CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN (NHTSA 02V-252) TO CORRECT THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.RECOMMENDATION IS TO OPEN AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.