Total Complaints
5 filings
FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL · model year
1998 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FREIGHTLINERCONVENTIONAL carries 5 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, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 CONVENTIONAL is tires with 2 filings, followed by steering (1) and service brakes, air (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 1998 CONVENTIONAL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
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 |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 2 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060823TIRES
1998 CONVENTIONAL RIGHT FRONT TIRE DEFLATED. *TS THE TIRE BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL AND RIM. THE TIRE CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUCK. *JB
20051228TIRES
1998 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO THE SEMI TRACTOR. *JB
20030604SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
AIR LEAKS FROM BRAKE SYSTEM AIR HOSE CONNECTION.
Mileage: 788,519
20001107SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
MODEL 132, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL. PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL HARDER MAKES PEDAL GO WAY DOWN, AND NOT RETURN. THIS CAUSES ZERO BRAKING ABILITY. *AK STUCK OR PARTIALLY STUCK BRAKE PISTONS CAUSED BRAKE LININGS TO DRAG POSSIBLY RESULTING IN FIRE AND BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER SERVICING IS VERY EXPENSIVE. *YH
20000911STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE SHAFT COMING FROM THE STEERING GEAR BOX TO THE PITMAN ARM WAS SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN COLLISION. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
Compare 1998FREIGHTLINERCONVENTIONAL 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 CONVENTIONAL have?▼
The 1998 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL is TIRES with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and SERVICE BRAKES, AIR.
Is the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL 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 as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.