Skip to main content
O Trucking
NHTSA Owner Complaints

2021 Freightliner M2 106

8 owner-reported issues

Owner-reported data
Total complaints
8
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
0
Open recalls
0

What this means

8 NHTSA complaints filed on 2021 Freightliner M2 106. Light sample — pattern recognition is limited but specific complaints may still be useful. The dominant complaint patterns are: POWER TRAIN (25%), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE (25%), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (13%). These three categories cover 63% of all reports — typical signal that there are 2-3 known systemic issues on this make/model/year, not random faults.

Top reported issues
  • #1POWER TRAIN
    2 (25%)
  • #2ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
    2 (25%)
  • #3VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
    1 (13%)
  • #4ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    1 (13%)
  • #5TIRES
    1 (13%)
  • #6UNKNOWN OR OTHER
    1 (13%)
Recent complaint examples
TIRES0000-00-00

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 …

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM0000-00-00

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 faul…

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL0000-00-00

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 ped…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE0000-00-00

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. …

POWER TRAIN0000-00-00

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…

POWER TRAIN0000-00-00

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 …

UNKNOWN OR OTHER0000-00-00

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 STO…

Crash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE0000-00-00

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 ar…

Related

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these Freightliner M2 106 2021 complaints verified by NHTSA?
NHTSA collects complaints from owners but does NOT verify each one. The complaints below are unfiltered owner reports — useful for spotting patterns, but a single complaint doesn't prove a defect. Pay attention to: (1) volume of complaints on the same component, (2) consistency of described symptoms, and (3) whether NHTSA has opened a formal investigation or issued a recall on the same component. If a component appears in 5+% of complaints, that's usually a real pattern worth taking seriously.
Should I avoid buying a 2021 Freightliner M2 106 based on these complaints?
It depends on the components reported. 8 complaints across roughly tens of thousands of trucks of this model year is a light signal. Compare against other model years of the same truck — if 2022 has 3x more complaints than 2020 or 2024, that specific year has issues. Also check whether the most-reported component is something you can preventively address (e.g., DEF system issues can be mitigated with quality fluid + dealer software updates).
Have any of these complaints led to recalls on the 2021 Freightliner M2 106?
Not currently. Owner complaints don't automatically trigger recalls — NHTSA reviews complaint patterns and opens investigations when warranted. Recalls usually happen when a complaint pattern correlates with documented field failures or safety incidents. Even without recalls, repeated complaints on the same component is signal worth noting in your purchase decision.
How do I file my own complaint about a Freightliner truck?
Visit NHTSA.gov/file-complaint. You'll need: your VIN, the date of incident, description of what happened, and component affected (drivetrain, brakes, etc.). Filing takes ~10 minutes and adds your data point to the public record. This is the input that triggers NHTSA investigations. For commercial trucks, fleet operators reporting issues at scale (10+ similar reports) often accelerate NHTSA's review timeline.
What's the most expensive complaint pattern on the 2021 Freightliner M2 106?
Based on the complaint data: the top reported issue is 'POWER TRAIN' with 2 reports. Depending on the specific failure mode, this can range from a few hundred dollars (sensor replacement) to several thousand (transmission rebuild, DPF replacement, engine work). The complaint pattern alone won't tell you cost — check the symptoms described for hints about the actual root cause. Most commercial-truck complaints describe symptoms ($1,500–$5,000 repair range is typical), not catastrophic failures.

Buying a used truck?

Tell us what you're looking for and we'll send matching new or used trucks — no obligation.

Prefer to talk? Call (682) 978-8641 · We reply within 1 business day. No spam.

Ready to Grow Your Trucking Business?

Dispatch support for your trucking business. Explore our current service options.