Total Complaints
25 filings
FREIGHTLINER MT · model year
1998 FREIGHTLINER MT
25 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FREIGHTLINERMT carries 25 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 MT is suspension:front with 3 filings, followed by suspension:front:shock absorber (3) and equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift (2). 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 MT. 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.
25
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 |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 2 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19990823STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
THE BEARING RUSTED IN GEAR BOX AND SUDDENLY LOCKED-UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN FAILURE. *YC
19981020EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
HYDRAULIC JACKS FAILED.
19981020STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
UNDERCARRIAGE RUSTING.
19981020STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH FAILED DUE TO STRAP LOOSE FROM DOOR.
19981020STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
COMPARTMENT DOORS RUBBER MOLDING DETACHED.
19981020STRUCTURE:BODY
SUN VISORS BROKE AND FELL OFF.
19981020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
FAN FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
19981020EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
BATHROOM SHOWER DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE, BATHROOM TILES FELL OFF.
19981020STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FRONT ENGRANCE DOOR OUT OF ALIGNMENT OPENS AND CAUSED ELECTRIC STEPS TO EXTEND WHILE DRIVING.
19981020SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
FRONT SHOCK BRACKET BROKE DUE TO WELD FAILURE.
19981020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE MAIN SEAL FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKING.
19981020SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END ALIGNMENT FAILURE CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRES.
19981020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
GENERATOR EXPERIECES INTERMITTENT FAILURE.
19981020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
19981020EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
C.D. RADIO FAILED.
19981020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TAG AXLE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO FAULTY WIRING.
19981020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
PROPANE AND CO SENSORS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
19980805SUSPENSION
SUSPENSION DOES NOT CONTAIN A LOCK OUT VALVE/SWITCH TO PREVENT INTERACTION BETWEEN THE LEVELING JACKS TAGAXLES AND AIR SUSPENSION.
19980202SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
LOSS OF SHOCK ON FRONT END RESULTED IN VEHICLE BEING DIFFICULT TO STEER.
19980119EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
HWH HYDRAULIC LEVELING JACK WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY UNDER MOST PARKING CONDITIONS. THE JACKS ARE USED TO LEVEL AND STABILIZE THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED. THE LEVELING JACK EXTENDS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD FALL OFF DURING THE LEVELING PROCESS.
Compare 1998FREIGHTLINERMT 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 MT have?▼
The 1998 FREIGHTLINER MT has 25 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FREIGHTLINER MT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER MT is SUSPENSION:FRONT with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER and EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT.
Is the 1998 FREIGHTLINER MT 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.