FaultScore report

2021 Freightliner M2 problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2021 Freightliner M2 with NHTSA between 2021 and 2026. The largest single group is the electrical system.

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Not graded

Too few complaints, too short a model run, or older than 1993 — the year the federal file can first describe fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

10

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

17,800 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

60%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

How 2021 compares with every other Freightliner M2

Click any bar to open that year's report.

06 07 08 09 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 21 22
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2021 Freightliner M2

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 3 30.0%

Median failure at 84,412 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 20.0%
Engine & Cooling 2 20.0%

Median failure at 151,024 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 10.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 5,000 mi

Tires 1 10.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 10.0%

Median failure at 15,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 20.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 40.0%
150,000+ miles 2 40.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Apr 2021 peak 2 Sep 2026

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 5,000 miles Eugene, OR Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS VEHICLE IS OUTFITTED WITH A BRIDGEPORT AUTOMATED ARM GARBAGE TRUCK BODY. AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY OCCURRED ON 14 APRIL 2021 BECAUSE OF NO WARNING SENSOR ON THE FORKS WITH GRAB THE GARBAGE/RECYCLE CART TO WARN THE DRIVER THAT THE FORKS ARE NOT COMPLETELY RETRACTED AND SAFELY STOW FOR TRANSPORT. A WARNING SENSOR IS ON THE FORK BOOM TO WARN THE DRIVER THAT THE BOOM IS NOT FULLY RETRACTED HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT LET THE DRIVER KNOW THAT THE FORKS ARE STILL A POTENTIAL HAZARD. I REALIZE THAT IT IS THE DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW ALL THE ELEMENTS OF HIS TRUCK, HOWEVER DRIVER'S DO MAKE MISTAKES AND IF THE COMPANY SEES A POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH SAFETY BY INSTALLING A WARNING ALARM ON THE BOOM, SIMPLY MOVING IT TO BEHIND THE FORKS WOULD ELIMINATE ANY POSSIBLY DAMAGE/INJURY TO VEHICLES OR BICYCLIST AND PEDESTRIANS.

NHTSA complaint #11408637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Santa Maria, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving on the Interstate check-engine light came on, engine governed to very slow speeds and ultimately became undrivable. This has happened twice. In May and August of 2026. According to Velocity Truck Centers in North Las Vegas, NV Engine harness contacted and chafed around air compressor. Vehicle is at Velocity Truck Centers in North Las Vegas, NV. This is the same failure as described in DTNA's recall FL-858.

NHTSA complaint #11763795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Maria, CA

ENGINE

While driving on the Interstate check-engine light came on, engine governed to very slow speeds and ultimately became undrivable. This has happened twice. In May and August of 2026. According to Velocity Truck Centers in North Las Vegas, NV Engine harness contacted and chafed around air compressor. Vehicle is at Velocity Truck Centers in North Las Vegas, NV. This is the same failure as described in DTNA's recall FL-858.

NHTSA complaint #11763795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alexandria, VA

TIRES

The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner XC-M. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21V00H000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) and 21V921000 (TIRES). The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact reached out to the manufacturer with questions about the recalls. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V00H000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). However, the manufacturer informed the contact that the repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V921000 (TIRES) would not be completed because the recall had expired.

NHTSA complaint #11719221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,800 miles Madison, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner XC Line Motorhome. The contact stated that the ICU on the coach had delaminated over time and made it difficult to read. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the ICU panel was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,800.

NHTSA complaint #11672079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Greenup, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner M2. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and slightly depressing the accelerator pedal, the pedal travelled down to the floorboard and was stuck, causing the vehicle to accelerate unintendedly. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact shifted to neutral(N), pulled over to the side of the road, and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as needed temporarily. The contact stated that the failure had caused him to pull over to the side of the road several times in one drive. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the failure recurred, and the vehicle accelerated unintendedly to 70 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The dealer test-drove the vehicle and informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

NHTSA complaint #11650436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 151,024 miles Palmdale, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner M2. The contact stated that while a driver was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started decelerating unintendedly and then stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver was able to coast to the side of the roadway. The driver was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that there was an excessive amount of oil in the engine. The dealer determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V466000 (Electrical System, Engine); but the VIN was not included in the recall, and the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,024.

NHTSA complaint #11634557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 151,024 miles Palmdale, CA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner M2. The contact stated that while a driver was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started decelerating unintendedly and then stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver was able to coast to the side of the roadway. The driver was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that there was an excessive amount of oil in the engine. The dealer determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V466000 (Electrical System, Engine); but the VIN was not included in the recall, and the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,024.

NHTSA complaint #11634557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rivera Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN

Meritor Transfer case has failed due to the internal coating coming off and clogging the oil pump pick up tube screen which starves the oil pump and eventually leads to bearing failure. This is a safety concern because the T-Case is the central connecting point for the drive line. When the bearings fail or seize the torque from the input shaft can cause the connecting components (u-joints, drive shafts) to shake violently and potentially fail, leaving debris in the roadway for other motorists to deal with and also having the potential to damage the trucks brake air system. This could result in an unexpected loss of control by the operator and result in a vehicle crash.

NHTSA complaint #11507018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rivera Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN

We have had close to 30 failures of the Meritor Transfer Case in both International and Freightliner chassis. This case specifically and of which I will add photos, is a 2021 Freightliner. The internal coating is flaking off and clogging the oil pump pick up screen which in turn starves the pump and eventually leads to bearing failure. This is a safety concern because the T-Case is the central connecting point for the drive line. When bearings fail or seize the torque from the input shaft can cause the connecting components (u-joints, Drive Shafts) to shake violently and potentially fail, leaving debris in the roadway for other motorists to deal with and also having the potential to damage the trucks brake air system. This could result in an unexpected loss of control by the operator and could result in a crash.

NHTSA complaint #11506369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Eugene, OR Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS VEHICLE IS OUTFITTED WITH A BRIDGEPORT AUTOMATED ARM GARBAGE TRUCK BODY. AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY OCCURRED ON 14 APRIL 2021 BECAUSE OF NO WARNING SENSOR ON THE FORKS WITH GRAB THE GARBAGE/RECYCLE CART TO WARN THE DRIVER THAT THE FORKS ARE NOT COMPLETELY RETRACTED AND SAFELY STOW FOR TRANSPORT. A WARNING SENSOR IS ON THE FORK BOOM TO WARN THE DRIVER THAT THE BOOM IS NOT FULLY RETRACTED HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT LET THE DRIVER KNOW THAT THE FORKS ARE STILL A POTENTIAL HAZARD. I REALIZE THAT IT IS THE DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW ALL THE ELEMENTS OF HIS TRUCK, HOWEVER DRIVER'S DO MAKE MISTAKES AND IF THE COMPANY SEES A POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH SAFETY BY INSTALLING A WARNING ALARM ON THE BOOM, SIMPLY MOVING IT TO BEHIND THE FORKS WOULD ELIMINATE ANY POSSIBLY DAMAGE/INJURY TO VEHICLES OR BICYCLIST AND PEDESTRIANS.

NHTSA complaint #11408637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.