Total Complaints
5 filings
FREIGHTLINER FL-70 · model year
1999 FREIGHTLINER FL-70
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999FREIGHTLINERFL-70 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, 0 injuries, 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 1999 FL-70 is power train:manual transmission with 2 filings, followed by steering:hydraulic power assist system (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (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 1999 FL-70. 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
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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060829TIRES
1999 FREIGHTLINER FL70 LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND DEBRIS HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE FELT A VIBRATION, THEN HE SAW TREAD EVERY WHERE. THE LEFT REAR RECAP HAD COME APART. *JB
20020701SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY DON'T HOLD.*AK
19991229POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
19991223STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER OF SAFETY CONCERNING A LARGE TRUCK AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS TO SPICER AND FREIGHTLINER ARE GROWING DAILY AS WITNESSED ON THE EXPEDITOR FORUM WEBSITE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER OF SERIOUS CONSEQUENSE OF LOSING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
19991214POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRUCK'S 7 SPEED SPICER TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OFTEN OCCURRING ON DOWNGRADES WHEN GEARS ARE NEEDED MOST. THIS PROBLEM WAS NEVER CORRECTED BY DEALER REPAIR SHOPS. ULTIMATELY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION OF THE SAME TYPE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF JUMPING OUT OF GEAR BEFORE FINALLY LOCKING UP. DEALER REPAIR SPECIALIST HAVE TOLD ME OF MANUFACTURER DEFECTS IN THIS TRANSMISSION. FREIGHTLINER HAS STOPPED USING THEM ON THEIR TRUCKS BUT REFUSE TO RE-CALL. REPLACEMENTS ARE MADE WITH THE SAME UNIT. NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, SOME AFTER ONLY A FEW DAYS OF SERVICE. THE TRANSMISSION IN QUESTION IS A SPICER ESO66-7B. FAILURES WERE ALL SUDDEN WITH NO FOREWARNING. *AK
Compare 1999FREIGHTLINERFL-70 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 1999 FREIGHTLINER FL-70 have?▼
The 1999 FREIGHTLINER FL-70 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 FREIGHTLINER FL-70?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 FREIGHTLINER FL-70 is POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1999 FREIGHTLINER FL-70 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.