2000 Freightliner Mt-45 recalls & complaints

1. Equipment

What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. CERTAIN VAN CHASSIS WITH SINGLE REAR TIRES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE REAR TIRE RATING WAS INCORRECTLY ENTERED IN THE GAWR/GVWR CALCULATION PROGRAM ON CERTAIN SINGLE REAR TIRES. THE REAR GAWR AND GVWR WILL BE INCORRECT WHEN THE GAWR IS LIMITED BY THE TIRE CAPACITY ON CHASSIS WITH TH…

What could happen: THIS COULD CAUSE PREMATURE TIRE TREAD WEAR OR TIRE FAILURE DURING NORMAL DRIVING WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

The fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL NEW CHASSIS IDENTIFICATION LABELS WITH THE CORRECT GAWR, GVWR, AND TIRE INFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2000 MT-45.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 05V138000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-547-0712.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

2. Steering

What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN MERITOR AXLES. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.

What could happen: THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

The fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 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…

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2000 MT-45.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 01V140007.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-547-0712.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

3. Electrical system

What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STEP VANS. THE BACK-UP BRAKE PUMP WAS WIRED TO A 25 AMP FUSED CIRCUIT INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 50 AMP FUSED CIRCUIT. IF THE BACK-UP HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP WERE TO ENGAGE DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE PRIMARY BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM OR THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE FUSE COULD BLOW.

What could happen: THIS RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

The fix: DEALERS WILL REWIRE THE BACK-UP BRAKE PUMP CIRCUIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 23, 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.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2000 MT-45.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 01V117000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-547-0712.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

4. Electrical system

What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STEP VANS. WATER COULD ENTER THE ELECTRICAL RELAYS RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

What could happen: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.

The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW SEALED RELAY AND FUSE BOX WITH SEALED RELAYS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 23, 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.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2000 MT-45.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 01V116000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-547-0712.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

5. Transmission / drivetrain

What's wrong, in plain English: The parts that send engine power to the wheels. Failure can mean a sudden loss of power or the car rolling away. 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.

What could happen: 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.

The 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 AU…

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2000 MT-45.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 00V229001.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-252-5283.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Most complained-about parts: Fuel system (2), Gasoline (2).

Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.