Total Complaints
2 filings
FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC · model year
1998 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC
2 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FREIGHTLINERCLASSIC carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1998 CLASSIC is engine and engine cooling:engine with 1 filings, followed by unknown or other (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 1998 CLASSIC. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040506UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY HERE LOCALLY IS BREAKING THE LAW BY NOT KEEPING COPIES OF THIER DRIVERS LOG BOOKS. THEY MAKE THEM DRIVE (FREIGHTLINERS) ILLEGALLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN RIGHTS ARE BROUGHT UP THE EMPLOYEES ARE FIRED FOR IT.
20030211ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED.*JB
Compare 1998FREIGHTLINERCLASSIC to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE24032Preliminary EvaluationClosed
EVDM connector plate separation
PE21006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
PE21002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Trolley bus circuit breaker fires
PE20014Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
PE20006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC have?▼
The 1998 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.