Total Complaints
6 filings
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER · model year
1990 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
6 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 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 1990 FREIGHTLINER is power train:axle assembly:axle shaft with 1 filings, followed by trailer hitches:fifth wheel assembly (1) and service brakes, air:controls:hand control/valve (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 35 investigation files overlapping the 1990 FREIGHTLINER. 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.
6
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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:AXLE SHAFT | 1 |
| TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS:HAND CONTROL/VALVE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010910FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FACTORY ROUTED FUEL LINE THROUGH HOSE CLAMP, BOLTED IT TO BACK OF ENGINE, BOLT ON CLAMP RUBBED HOLE IN FUEL LINE.
19970325SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
LEAF SPRING BROKE AND FELL ONTO ROADWAY, TWO OTHER DRIVER'S DROVE OVER SPRING, CAUSING ONE DRIVER'S DIESEL TANK TO RUPTURE/SPILL ONTO ROADWAY.
19961029SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END HAD VIOLENT VIBRATION WHENEVER VEHICLE HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE, DUE TO CASTOR BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
19960711SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS:HAND CONTROL/VALVE
AIR BRAKE CONTROL VALVE BODY CRACKED DUE TO BEING MADE OF PLASTIC. *DH
19960502CrashTRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
TRUCKS FIFTH WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED, CAUSING TRAILER TO DISCONNECT, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH
19951109FirePOWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS CAUGHT ON FIRE (OHIO STATE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT). *AK
Compare 1990FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE24032Preliminary EvaluationClosed
EVDM connector plate separation
PE21006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
PE20014Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
PE20006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
PE18004Preliminary EvaluationClosed
PNDB Electrical Power Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER have?▼
The 1990 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER has 6 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER is POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY and SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS:HAND CONTROL/VALVE.
Is the 1990 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER 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.