Total Complaints
13 filings
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER · model year
1998 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
13 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 FREIGHTLINER is visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:exterior with 1 filings, followed by exterior lighting:turn signal (1) and service brakes, air:controls (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 1998 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.
13
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
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 |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040712POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LININGS, FRONT DRIVE AXLE, STEERING AXLE.*MR THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD CONTAMINATED BRAKE LININGS WHICH SHOWED EVIDENCE OF CONTINUED LEAKAGE. THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE HOUSING CRACKED LEAKING FLUID AT THE U-BOLT ASSEMBLY. THE STEERING AXLE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD AN AIR LEAK IN THE HOSE TO BRAKE CHAMBER. THE LEAK OCCURRED ON BRAKE APPLICATION. THE BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. *NM
Mileage: 626,767
20040712STEERING
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LININGS, FRONT DRIVE AXLE, STEERING AXLE.*MR THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD CONTAMINATED BRAKE LININGS WHICH SHOWED EVIDENCE OF CONTINUED LEAKAGE. THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE HOUSING CRACKED LEAKING FLUID AT THE U-BOLT ASSEMBLY. THE STEERING AXLE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD AN AIR LEAK IN THE HOSE TO BRAKE CHAMBER. THE LEAK OCCURRED ON BRAKE APPLICATION. THE BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. *NM
Mileage: 626,767
20040712SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LININGS, FRONT DRIVE AXLE, STEERING AXLE.*MR THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD CONTAMINATED BRAKE LININGS WHICH SHOWED EVIDENCE OF CONTINUED LEAKAGE. THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE HOUSING CRACKED LEAKING FLUID AT THE U-BOLT ASSEMBLY. THE STEERING AXLE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD AN AIR LEAK IN THE HOSE TO BRAKE CHAMBER. THE LEAK OCCURRED ON BRAKE APPLICATION. THE BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. *NM
Mileage: 626,767
20040128VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE LOST POWER. TECHNICIAN SERVICED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THROTTLE LEVER SNAPPED FROM THE ENGINE. *AK
20020617TIRES
WITH ONLY A TENTH TREAD USED, REAR INSIDE DUAL TIRE BLEWOUT WITH WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A ZIPPER AFFECT. MOTORHOME WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH AT THAT TIME. TIRE SIZE IS LT23580225. OWNER KNOWS OTHER CONSUMERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 5 BLOWOUTS ON MICHELIN TIRES (DOT # UNKNOWN). *TT
20010601ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STOP RUNNING COMPLETLY WITH NO WARNING. IF YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY IT POSES A SAFTY PROBLEM TO SAFELY STOP THE TRUCK AND PULL OF THE ROAD . WE HAVE HAD 80 SUCH BREAKDOWNS IN OUR FLEET OF 22 VEHICLE IN 2 YEARS. THIS SITUATION CREATES A GRAVE SAFTY RISK TO OUR DRIVERS AND THE MOTORING PUBLIC. WE HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM AND IT COMES WITH OUT WARNING . PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION THANK YOU
20001027EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER HOSES ROUTED OVER TURBOCHARGER. NO ISOLATION MATERIAL IS INSTALLED ON AC HOSES. HEAT FROM TURBOCHARGER DETERIORATES HOSES AND CAUSE ACCELERATED MATERIAL DECOMPOSITION. FAILURE MODE: HOSE BURSTS, REFRIGERANT ESCAPES THE SYSTEM AT VERY HIGH PRESSURE. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MECHANIC OR PERSON PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE ENGINE. THIS WAS FOUND ON A FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS WITH A CATERPILLAR 3126B ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH TURBOCHARGER AND JACOBS EXHAUST BRAKE.
20001027UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AIR CONDITIONER HOSES ROUTED OVER TURBOCHARGER. NO ISOLATION MATERIAL IS INSTALLED ON AC HOSES. HEAT FROM TURBOCHARGER DETERIORATES HOSES AND CAUSE ACCELERATED MATERIAL DECOMPOSITION. FAILURE MODE: HOSE BURSTS, REFRIGERANT ESCAPES THE SYSTEM AT VERY HIGH PRESSURE. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MECHANIC OR PERSON PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE ENGINE. THIS WAS FOUND ON A FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS WITH A CATERPILLAR 3126B ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH TURBOCHARGER AND JACOBS EXHAUST BRAKE.
20001027ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
AIR CONDITIONER HOSES ROUTED OVER TURBOCHARGER. NO ISOLATION MATERIAL IS INSTALLED ON AC HOSES. HEAT FROM TURBOCHARGER DETERIORATES HOSES AND CAUSE ACCELERATED MATERIAL DECOMPOSITION. FAILURE MODE: HOSE BURSTS, REFRIGERANT ESCAPES THE SYSTEM AT VERY HIGH PRESSURE. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MECHANIC OR PERSON PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE ENGINE. THIS WAS FOUND ON A FREIGHTLINER XC CHASSIS WITH A CATERPILLAR 3126B ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH TURBOCHARGER AND JACOBS EXHAUST BRAKE.
20000925SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET
REAR SUSPENSIONS ARE SPRINGS WHERE LEAF SPRINGS ARE ATTACHED TO HANGER . 2 "L" SHAPE GUARDS DESIGNED TO KEEP SPRINGS IN CENTER BUSHING & AT SHERING THE MIDDLE SPRINGS, GOING UP/DOWN & HITTING IT. SPRINGS WORK TO SIDE OF BUSHING IF "L" SHAPE GUARD NOT THERE. HAD HANGER SPRINGS ASSEMBLY CHANGED IN 1999. THIS IS A FREIGHTLINER TRACTOR.*AK
19990629CrashSERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SECURED TO THE FLOOR BY A CLEVIS PIN. THE CLEVIS PIN IS SECURED BY A COTTER PIN. THE COTTER PIN WAS NOT BENT OPEN AT THE FACTORY. THE COTTER PIN FELL OUT WHICH ALLOWED THE CLEVIS PIN TO COME OUT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME DISLODGED ,AND FALL OFF WHEREBY THERE WAS NO WAY TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THIS SAME DEFECT WAS FOUND IN A NEW FLEETWOOD BOUNDER MOTOR HOME IN MANASSAS VA TWO MONTHS AFTER FREIGHTLINER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM WHICH ALLOWS ME TO BELIEVE THAT FREIGHTLINER HAS NOT BEEN THOROUGH IN NOTIFYING THEIR DEALERS AND OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL NOTICE FROM FREIGHTLINER AT THIS TIME. *AK
19981202EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TURN SIGNAL COVER CAME OFF AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLES WINDSHIELD.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
19980805VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS ARE MOUNTED FOREARD OF DOORS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
Compare 1998FREIGHTLINERFREIGHTLINER 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 1998 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER have?▼
The 1998 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER has 13 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER is VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL and SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS.
Is the 1998 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.