IllustrationSYNTECH SEAT BACKS ARE MADE TOO THIN. 23 OUT OF 26 OF THE SEATS ON THIS SCHOOL BUS ARE BROKEN. THESE SEAT BACKS ARE SPOT WELDED TO A TUBULAR FRAME AND THE THIN SHEET METAL SEAT BACK CRACKS AND SEPARATES FROM THE FRAME. IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN THE STATE SCHOOL BUS INSPECTOR WILL RED TAG THIS BUS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT.
2005 Freightliner FS-65
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all FS-65 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seats. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Seats complaints
1 reportsOfficial recalls
107V394000 · Steering:linkages
Aug 30, 2007
ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, IMPROPER PINCH BOLT INSTALLATION MAY RESULT IN DECOUPLING OF THE STEERING SHAFT AND A LOSS OF STEERING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF STEERING MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLTS ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED. IMPROPERLY INSTALLED PINCH BOLTS WILL BE TORQUED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.