Total Complaints
2 filings
Freightliner Columbia · model year
2002 Freightliner Columbia
2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 3 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 3
The verdict
The 2002 Freightliner Columbia posts below-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
- Top 27%
- fewest complaints, own model years
- 3
- recall campaigns
The 2002FreightlinerColumbia carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2002 Columbia is steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion) with 1 filings, followed by fuel system, other:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2002 Columbia. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
2
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2002 Freightliner Columbia
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
Recalls (3)
17V81000015/12/2017
EQUIPMENT
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado trucks and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900 and 6900 trucks. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers tha
05V00100003/01/2005
SEATS
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SEATS BUILT BY GRA-MAG, THE SEAT PIVOT BOLTS CAN LOOSEN AND POSSIBLY FRACTURE OR DISLODGE, CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO FAIL TO PROVIDE FULL SUPPORT TO THE DRIVER'S BACK.
02V32100102/12/2002
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANIFOLD DASH VALVES WITH PUSH TO CONNECT FITTINGS USED TO CONTROL THE PARK BRAKE FUNCTION ON TRUCKS AND TRAILERS WITH AIR BRAKES, THE PARK KNOB CAN POP OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS WILL EXHAUST THE AIR FROM THE PARK BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE TRAIL
Recent Complaints
20060823FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2002 FREIGHTLINER LEAKED DIESEL FUEL DUE TO A BROKEN FUEL LINE. *TS *JB
20021203CrashFireSTEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED REPORT ON A TOTAL OF 5 FAILURES, ODI NUMBER 762991 ON 6/12/2002. SINCE THAT POINT WE HAVE HAD AN ADDITIONAL 14 FAILURES, AND 1 MORE ACCIDENT. TRW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAS NOT MADE ANY EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, [XXX]. BILL OF TRIDENT ENGINEERING IN ANNAPOLIS, MD HAS ADVISED US WE SHOULD REPORT EACH FAILURE. HE FEELS THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS "LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS, USUALLY (BUT NOT ALWAYS) AT LOW SPEEDS". THE PROBLEMS SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE SUBJECT OF THE RECENT GM RECALL. OTHER FAILURES INCLUDE OUR UNIT 3612 - 2001 FREIGHT -[XXX] FAILED 07/24/02;OUR UNIT 3624-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 06/22/02; OUR UNIT 3728-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 07/25/02;OUR UNIT 3729-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 07/12/02;OUR UNIT 3956-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 08/18/02; OUR UNIT 3650-2001 FREIGHT-[XXX] FAILED 09/14/02;
Compare 2002FreightlinerColumbia 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
Vehicle Safety Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 Freightliner Columbia have?▼
The 2002 Freightliner Columbia has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 Freightliner Columbia?▼
Yes, the 2002 Freightliner Columbia has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Freightliner Columbia?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 Freightliner Columbia is STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS.
Is the 2002 Freightliner Columbia 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.
Data vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2002 Freightliner Columbia; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.