Total Complaints
7 filings
FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC · model year
2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC
7 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001FREIGHTLINERCLASSIC carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 CLASSIC is engine and engine cooling:engine:other fuel types:turbo/supercharger with 2 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and suspension (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2001 CLASSIC. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
7
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060405TIRES
2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC LEFT FRONT STEER TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE LEFT FENDER, BUMPER AND HOOD WERE DAMAGED. *NM
20040908ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE'S HYDRAULIC PUMP AND FAN FAILED. AS A RESULT, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMOKED BECAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATED. NO FIRE REPORTED. *AK
Mileage: 73,000
20040513STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
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
20030212ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
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
Mileage: 92,000
20030212ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
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
20021211FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLY RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (FREIGHTLINER FLD132064T 2001). NLM
20021211SUSPENSION
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS THE TRACTOR BOBS BACK AND FORTH AND LEANS EXTREMELY BAD, THE DRIVER DESCRIBES IT LIKE BEING IN A BOAT ROCKING (FREIGHTLINER FLD132064T 2001). NLM
Compare 2001FREIGHTLINERCLASSIC to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE24032Preliminary EvaluationClosed
EVDM connector plate separation
PE21006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
PE21002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Trolley bus circuit breaker fires
PE20014Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
PE20006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC have?▼
The 2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC?▼
The most-complained component for the 2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SUSPENSION.
Is the 2001 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.