2000 Freightliner FS-65 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jul 28, 2005 · 12 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other FS-65 years
Far more complaints than other years 1st of 9 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Freightliner FS-65. That is the most of any FS-65 model year in the database (9 years). The most reported problem area is fuel system, diesel (12 complaints, 100%). There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2000 Freightliner FS-65 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Fuel System, Diesel12
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Fuel System, Diesel12100%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

2000 Freightliner FS-65 recalls (6)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Fuel system, dieselApr 27, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V205000 · 16,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.

Fix: 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.

Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsJul 12, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V343000 · 3,200 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: A brake fluid leak can reduce braking effectiveness and increase the stopping distance, which could result in a crash.

Fix: 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.

Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsApr 2, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V084000 · 16,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: The vehicle could have reduced braking capacity, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Electrical system:wiringJun 26, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V215000 · 8,753 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: This can cause an electrical short and potential fire.

Fix: 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.

Power train:automatic transmissionAug 17, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V229001 · 594 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks, shuttle buses, transit buses and step vans equipped with allison 1000 or 2400 series transmissions. These transmissions can experience park pawl to rear cover interference due to an out of flatness condition.

Risk: This could cause non-engagement of the park pawl when the transmission shift selector is moved to the park position, resulting in unintended vehicle movement and a vehicle crash without prior warning.

Fix: Allison transmission is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will remove the transmission from the vehicle, replace the park pawl, and reinstall the transmission in the vehicle. Owner notification is expected to begin during september 2000. 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 allison at 1-800-252-5283 or freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

Service brakes, air:antilockAug 7, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V232002 · 35,405 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks and school bus chassis built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.

Risk: This condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the abs ecu.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Front air brake hose leakage (PE02024) — opened Feb 22, 2002, closed Mar 25, 2002, led to recall 02V084000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Dt: the contact owned a 2000 and 2001 freightliners. Contact was unable to get the recall repair work on fuel system done because the manufacturer will not pay the dealership enough to do the repair work. Had 20 of these vehicles, 2000-2001 year models. Could do do the repairs themselves, but they…

Fuel System, Diesel · received Jul 28, 2005 · NHTSA complaint 10130448

Dt: the contact owned a 2000 freightliner. Contact was unable to get the recall repair work on fuel system done because the manufacturee will not pay the dealership enough to do the repair work. Had 20 of these vehicles, 2000-2001 year models. Could do the repairs themselves, but they could not do…

Fuel System, Diesel · received Jul 28, 2005 · NHTSA complaint 10130450

Dt: the contact owned a 2000 freightliner. Contact was unable to get the recall repair work in fuel system done because the manufacturer will not pay the dealership enough to do the repair work. Had 20 of these vehicles, 2000-2001 year models. Could do the repairs themselves, but they could not do…

Fuel System, Diesel · received Jul 28, 2005 · NHTSA complaint 10130451

Dt: the contact owned a 2000 freightliner. Contact was unable to get the recall repair work on fuel system done because the manufacturer will not pay the dealership enough to do the repair work. Had 20 of these vehicles, 2000-2001 year models. Could do the repairs themselves, but they could not do…

Fuel System, Diesel · received Jul 28, 2005 · NHTSA complaint 10130454

Dt: the contact owned a 2000 freightliner. Contact unable to get the recall repair work on fuel system done because the manufacturer will not pay the dealership enough to do the repair work. Had 20 of these vehicles, 2000-2001 year models. Could do the repairs themselves, but they could not do fast…

Fuel System, Diesel · received Jul 28, 2005 · NHTSA complaint 10130455

Other Freightliner FS-65 years

← 1999 FS-65 · 2001 FS-65 →

See all Freightliner FS-65 problems by year, every Freightliner model, or the VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Freightliner FS-65?

Owners most often report fuel system, diesel problems. The top one, fuel system, diesel, accounts for 12 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2000 Freightliner FS-65?

Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2000 Freightliner FS-65 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other FS-65 model years, the 2000 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.