Total Complaints
1 filings
FREIGHTLINER FL-80 · model year
1997 FREIGHTLINER FL-80
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FREIGHTLINERFL-80 carries 1 consumer safety complaint 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 1997 FL-80 is steering:linkages:tie rod assembly with 1 filings. 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 1997 FL-80. 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.
1
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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030218STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
PROBLEM: BALL STUD & SOCKET ASSEMBLY SEPARATED. REVIEW NHTSA #OOV-246.001 TRUCK: 1997 FREIGHTLINER, FL-80 - SERIAL # [XXX] IN-SERVICE DATE: MAY 9, 1997 - MILEAGE 76,389 THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, DEPT. OF TRANS., HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF 1997 THRU 1999 FREIGHTLINER, FL-80 DUMP TRUCKS, USED FOR SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL. CANNOT RECEIVED THE NHTSA BULLETIN #00V-246-001 PERTAINING TO BALL STUD AND SOCKET ASSEMBLIES COMING APART. FREIGHTLINER SENT ONLY A FEW NOTICES PERTAINING VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET. NONE OF THEM INCLUDED THE LARGE NUMBER OF 1997 FREIGHTLINER DUMP TRUCKS. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT TO STOP. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES REPORTED. THE FAILED BALL AND SOCKET SEPARATED IN THE EXACT SAME WAY AS NOTED IN THE FREIGHTLINER BULLETIN #FL396AB OR NHTSA #00V-246-001. ACTION REQUEST: EXTEND OR EXPAND THE RECALL OF THE TRW BALL & STUD AND SOCKET ASSEMBLIES TO INCLUDE OTHER VEHICLES BUILT USING THIS BALL & STUD ASSEMBLY
Mileage: 76,389
Compare 1997FREIGHTLINERFL-80 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 1997 FREIGHTLINER FL-80 have?▼
The 1997 FREIGHTLINER FL-80 has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FREIGHTLINER FL-80?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER FL-80 is STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1997 FREIGHTLINER FL-80 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.