Total Complaints
7 filings
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER · model year
1996 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
7 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 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 1996 FREIGHTLINER is electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator with 1 filings, followed by suspension:rear:shock absorber (1) and power train:axle assembly (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 1996 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.
7
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030724SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
1996 FREIGHTLINER EXPERIENCED A RADIATOR LEAK,THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COMPRESSOR FAILED. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BEFORE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY RECONDITIONED AND INSPECTED PRIOR TO DELIVERY, BUT THE RADIATOR LEAKED (WHICH WASN'T A WARRANTED PART), THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE COMPRESSOR FAILED (NOT WARRANTED). IN RE; 2/1996 FREIGHTLINER FDL120 TRACTORS & S/N, THE SECOND VEHICLE'S VIN # [XXX] *SCC *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
20030724ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
1996 FREIGHTLINER EXPERIENCED A RADIATOR LEAK,THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COMPRESSOR FAILED. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BEFORE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY RECONDITIONED AND INSPECTED PRIOR TO DELIVERY, BUT THE RADIATOR LEAKED (WHICH WASN'T A WARRANTED PART), THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE COMPRESSOR FAILED (NOT WARRANTED). IN RE; 2/1996 FREIGHTLINER FDL120 TRACTORS & S/N, THE SECOND VEHICLE'S VIN # [XXX] *SCC *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
20030411STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH DOOR SAFETY BOLTS. THE METAL DOOR FRAME AROUND THE NADER BOLT WAS FATIGUE AND CRACKED COMPLETELY THROUGH.*MR *TS *JB
19991214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHEN TRAVELING 60-65 MPH THE ECM WENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, LOSS OF ALL STEERING CAPABILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ENTIRE ECM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
19981014FirePOWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVE AXLES CAUGHT FIRE.(OHIO STATE POLICE).
19980622SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
WHEN DRIVING 55-60 MPH, COMING INTO A CONSTRUCTION AREA, THE AIR BAG ON THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE MOTORHOME TO DROP DOWN ON ONE SIDE. THE DRIVER TO LOST CONTROL AND HIT A BARRICADE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
19970627ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VIBRATIONS CAUSED BY DIESEL SERIES 60 ENGINES AS IN THE FREIGHTLINER FLD 112 CAUSES ALTERNATOR TO BEAKDOWN/FAIL. *AK
Compare 1996FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER 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 1996 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER have?▼
The 1996 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER and POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1996 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.