Freightliner Conventional Problems by Year
Freightliner Conventional years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Conventional year: 1999, 2000. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2000 Conventional: 12 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1999 Conventional: 11 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 Conventional: 7 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2018 Conventional: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2002 Conventional: 2 complaints, 1 recall
- 2008 Conventional: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Freightliner Conventional problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 22 | 10 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Power Train | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Freightliner Conventional model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Conventional | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2008 Conventional | 2 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 2007 Conventional | 4 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2002 Conventional | 2 | 1 | — | Tires | |
| 2001 Conventional | 7 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Air | |
| 2000 Conventional | 12 | 0 | — | Tires | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 Conventional | 11 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Conventional | 5 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Air | |
| 1997 Conventional | 5 | 0 | — | Tires | |
| 1996 Conventional | 5 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1995 Conventional | 7 | 0 | — | Tires |
More from Freightliner: all Freightliner models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Freightliner Conventional years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1999 (11), 2000 (12) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Conventional year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Freightliner Conventional?
Tires, with 22 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Freightliner Conventional have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.