Reliability & cost of ownership
Freightliner FS-65 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Freightliner FS-65? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Freightliner FS-65 problems by model year
31 recall entries and 30 owner complaints on file across 9 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 FS-65 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2005 FS-65 | 1 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2002 FS-65 | 3 | 5 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2001 FS-65 | 4 | 12 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2000 FS-65 | 6 | 12 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1999 FS-65 | 7 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1998 FS-65 | 4 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1997 FS-65 | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1996 FS-65 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Freightliner FS-65, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- fuel system, diesel20 complaints
- structure5 complaints
- service brakes, hydraulic3 complaints
- electrical system2 complaints
- fuel system, other1 complaint
- seats1 complaint