Total Complaints
2 filings
FREIGHTLINER FLD · model year
1998 FREIGHTLINER FLD
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FREIGHTLINERFLD 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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 FLD is power train:axle assembly with 1 filings, followed by power train:driveline:driveshaft (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 FLD. 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.
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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020917POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE NOTICED A VIBRATION, WHICH BECAME RAPIDLY SEVERE, CONSUMER THEN HEARD A NOISE AND THERE WAS ALSO A SMELL OF HOT OIL, THE SEMI LOST ALL POWER, CONSUMER COASTED TO A STOP, AND AFTER EXITING THE SEMI, CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD BROKE OFF WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH CAUSED ANOTHER MOTORIST TO RUN OVER IT.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB
20000814POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT AXLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH GUARDRAIL (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
Compare 1998FREIGHTLINERFLD 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 FLD have?▼
The 1998 FREIGHTLINER FLD has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FREIGHTLINER FLD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER FLD is POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT.
Is the 1998 FREIGHTLINER FLD 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.