FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC · model year

2006 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC

2 NHTSA complaints, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006FREIGHTLINERCLASSIC carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 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 2006 CLASSIC is service brakes, air with 1 filings, followed by tires (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. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2006 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.

2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

2 filings

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

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR1
TIRES1

Recalls (4)

07V30200016/07/2007

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE

CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS, HEAVY TRUCKS, AND THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2002 AND JULY 3, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE CONTROL VALVES. THE PARKER SCV BRASS 90 DEGREE SINGLE CHECK VALVES (SCV) WHICH ATTACH TO THE SUPPLY PORT OF A BENDIX SR-7 SPRI

07V53000013/11/2007

TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

ON CERTAIN TRUCK-TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH HOLLAND SIMPLEX SE OR SE II FIFTH WHEELS, THE LATCH LEVER PIVOT BOLT ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TIGHTENED WHICH COULD DISTORT THE PIVOT BOLT SPACER SLEEVE. CORROSION OR CONTAMINATES IN THE PIVOT MAY CAUSE IT TO BIND AND PREVENT THE FIFTH WHEEL JAW FROM LATCH

08V11300011/03/2008

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 62,000 MY 2005-2007 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS, CENTURY CLASS, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, FLD, CLASSIC, STERLING A-LINE, L-LINE, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS. A FRACTURED FUEL LINE COULD LEAK DIESEL FUEL.

06V03000008/02/2006

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.

Recent Complaints

20110206SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

2006 FREIGHTLINER SEMI, WAS DISABLED ON THE BERM WITH IT'S HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND A PATROL CAR BEHIND IT DUE TO LOSING A SET OF TRAILER TIRES. UPON COMING TO A STOP AT THE 148.4 MILE POST. UNIT 2'S BRAKE DRUM FELL OFF AND ROLLED INTO TRAFFIC. UNIT 1 STRUCK THE BRAKE DRUM AND CONTINUED ON A LITTLE FURTHER BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE DRIVER WAS ASKED TO MOVE HIS OUT FIT A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND AS HE DID, THAT IS WHEN THE OFFICER NOTICED THE BRAKE DRUM HAD FALL FROM THE TRUCK. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0902-90)*JB UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF

20110206TIRES

2006 FREIGHTLINER SEMI, WAS DISABLED ON THE BERM WITH IT'S HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND A PATROL CAR BEHIND IT DUE TO LOSING A SET OF TRAILER TIRES. UPON COMING TO A STOP AT THE 148.4 MILE POST. UNIT 2'S BRAKE DRUM FELL OFF AND ROLLED INTO TRAFFIC. UNIT 1 STRUCK THE BRAKE DRUM AND CONTINUED ON A LITTLE FURTHER BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE DRIVER WAS ASKED TO MOVE HIS OUT FIT A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND AS HE DID, THAT IS WHEN THE OFFICER NOTICED THE BRAKE DRUM HAD FALL FROM THE TRUCK. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0902-90)*JB UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF

Compare 2006FREIGHTLINERCLASSIC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC have?
The 2006 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2006 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC?
Yes, the 2006 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC?
The most-complained component for the 2006 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC is SERVICE BRAKES, AIR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES.
Is the 2006 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.