Total Complaints
12 filings
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER · model year
1997 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
12 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER carries 12 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 1997 FREIGHTLINER is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components with 1 filings, followed by seats (1) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system (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 1997 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.
12
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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090717ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FREIGHTLINER TRADE WIND (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERATIVE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.
Mileage: 55,000
19990908SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE.
19990405SEATS
SEAT AND ARMREST BROKE ON TWO OCCASIONS.
19990405ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE COOLANT LEAK.
19990405VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
RIGHT SIDE MIRROR FAILED.
19990405VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD AND SUN ROOF GLASS LEAKING WATER.
19990405VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
WINDSHIELD AND SUN ROOF GLASS LEAKING WATER.
19990405VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR SHORTED OUT AND FAILED.
19990405SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
BRAKE PAD ON FAN CLUTCH BROKEN, SURFACE CAME APART.
19990405EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER BRACKET LOOSE, BOLTS BROKEN AND MISSING.
19990405ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING LOW AMP LIGHT TO APPEAR, HEAD LIGHTS TO FAIL, 17 BULBS ON DASH TO FAIL, SHORTING OF SENSOR AND DOME LIGHT.
19970527SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED TWICE.
Compare 1997FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER 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 1997 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER have?▼
The 1997 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM.
Is the 1997 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.