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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Freightliner FS-65 Recalls & Complaints

The 2001 Freightliner FS-65 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 12 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Freightliner dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 Freightliner FS-65. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2001 Freightliner FS-65 owner complaints

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Freightliner FS-65, describing incidents dated February 28, 2000 to March 30, 2006.

Most-cited components

  • Fuel/Propulsion System 8 complaints
  • Service Brakes 3 complaints
  • Electrical System 2 complaints
  • Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

  • ODI #10155354 · Filed

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 35 MPH, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT COMPLETELY DEPRESS. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT AS IF IT WAS "ROCK-HARD". THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT A RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER REGARDING THE ROTORS WAS RECEIVED…

  • ODI #10130478 · Filed

    DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FREIGHTLINER. CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET RECALL REPAIR WORK BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PAY THE DEALERSHIP ENOUGH TO DO THE REPAIR WORK. DEALER HAD 20 OF THESE VEHICLES 2000-2001 MODELS. COULD DO THESE REPAIRS THEMSELVES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DO FAST ENOUGH FOR THE…

  • ODI #10130476 · Filed

    DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FREIGHTLINER. CONTACT STATED THAT WAS UNABLE TO GET RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE ON FUEL SYSTEM BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PAY THE DEALERSHIP ENOUGH TO DO THE REPAIR WORK. HA D 20 OF THESE VEHICLES 2000-2001 YEAR MODELS. COULD DO THE REPAIRS THEMSELVES, BUT THEY COULD…

Read all 12 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2001 Freightliner FS-65 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

CUMMINS/FUEL LIFT PUMP/STALLING CONDITION

NHTSA #05V205000 · Fuel System, Diesel · NHTSA notice

Reported April 27, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 16,000 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-447 · Vehicles built December 1, 1997 – January 31, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

CERTAIN 1998-2003 MY FREIGHTLINER FS-65 SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS AND MB-45, MB-55, AND XB SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS, AND THOMAS BUILT BUS: MVP-ER AND MVP-EF SCHOOL BUS AND NON-SCHOOL BUS MODELS EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES AND EQUIPPED WITH FEDERAL-MOGAL 12 AND 24 VOLT FUEL LIFT PUMPS. THE FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL TO TRANSFER FUEL APPROPRIATELY CREATING AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.

Safety consequence

SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS OF FREIGHTLINER AND THOMAS BUILT AND REPLACE THE FUEL LIFT PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FREIGHTLINER/WORN FRONT BRAKE LINE

NHTSA #04V343000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings · NHTSA notice

Reported July 12, 2004 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 3,200 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-421 · Owners notified August 10, 2004 · Vehicles built September 20, 1996 – June 28, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES. A BRAIDED GROUND STRAP FOR THE STARTER MAY RUB ON A STEEL CHASSIS BRAKE LINE POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FLUID LEAK.

Safety consequence

A BRAKE FLUID LEAK CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE BRAIDED GROUND STRAP WILL BE REPLACED WITH AN INSULATED CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 10, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-421.ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

FREIGHTLINER/AIR LINE ROUTING

NHTSA #02V084000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings · NHTSA notice

Reported April 2, 2002 · FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 16,000 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-394 · Owners notified April 29, 2002 · Vehicles built February 24, 1999 – March 3, 2002 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES, THE BRAKE HOSES FROM THE CHASSIS TO FRONT BRAKE CHAMBERS COULD DEVELOP LEAKS DUE TO THE HOSE ROUTING THAT COULD OVERSTRESS THE HOSE DURING SHARP TURNS.

Safety consequence

THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE REDUCED BRAKING CAPACITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR IMPROPER ROUTING. IF IMPROPER ROUTING IS FOUND, DEALERS WILL REPLACE AND CORRECT THE HOSE ROUTING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

FREIGHTLINER/PASS-THROUGH CONNECTOR

NHTSA #01V215000 · Electrical System — Wiring · NHTSA notice

Reported June 26, 2001 · FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 8,753 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-382 · Owners notified October 9, 2001 · Vehicles built June 1, 2000 – April 25, 2001 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BUS CHASSIS VEHICLES. AN ELECTRICAL PASS-THROUGH CONNECTOR MAY NOT FIT IN THE FIREWALL MOUNTING HOLE CORRECTLY, RESULTING IN THE CONNECTOR DISLODGING AND AN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONTACTING THE FIREWALL.

Safety consequence

THIS CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND POTENTIAL FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT VEHICLES FOR PROPER MOUNTING OF THE ELECTRICAL PASS THROUGH AND CORRECT IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Freightliner FS-65 model years

Check your 2001 Freightliner FS-65 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Freightliner FS-65 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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