Total Complaints
6 filings
FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS · model year
1997 FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FREIGHTLINERSCHOOL BUS carries 6 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 SCHOOL BUS is vehicle speed control:cables with 2 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (1) and equipment (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 38 investigation files overlapping the 1997 SCHOOL BUS. 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
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 |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20011019VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
THROTTLE CABLE IN A 1997, FREIGHTLINER, FS65 SCHOOL BUS HAS SNAPPED SIX TIMES DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. BOTH, DEALER AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MECHANICS, HAVE MADE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH CONTINUED TO OCCUR. INCIDENT DATES INCLUDED 10/13/2000/11/29/2000/01/31/2001/02/22/2001/07/11/2001, AND 08/15/2001. *NOTE: PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK. ALSO HEAD LIGHT WAS REPLACED,KNOB ON AIR DOOR CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED*ET
20011019EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THROTTLE CABLE IN A 1997, FREIGHTLINER, FS65 SCHOOL BUS HAS SNAPPED SIX TIMES DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. BOTH, DEALER AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MECHANICS, HAVE MADE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH CONTINUED TO OCCUR. INCIDENT DATES INCLUDED 10/13/2000/11/29/2000/01/31/2001/02/22/2001/07/11/2001, AND 08/15/2001. *NOTE: PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK. ALSO HEAD LIGHT WAS REPLACED,KNOB ON AIR DOOR CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED*ET
20011019VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
THROTTLE CABLE FOR A 1997 FREIGHTLINER, FS65 SCHOOL BUS HAS SNAPPED APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES, LEAVING VEHICLE INOPERABLE UNTIL REPAIRS COULD BE MADE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY BOTH DEALERSHIP AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MECHANICS. INCIDENT DATES INCLUDED 04/XX/1998/05/25/2001, AND 10/13/2001. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *NOTE: PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK WORK HISTORY ATTACHED, ALSO TIRES WERE REPLACED,HEATER BOOSTER WAS REPLACED,ALSO WIPER ARM WAS ADJUSTED. *TT
20011019EQUIPMENT
THROTTLE CABLE FOR A 1997 FREIGHTLINER, FS65 SCHOOL BUS HAS SNAPPED APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES, LEAVING VEHICLE INOPERABLE UNTIL REPAIRS COULD BE MADE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY BOTH DEALERSHIP AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MECHANICS. INCIDENT DATES INCLUDED 04/XX/1998/05/25/2001, AND 10/13/2001. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *NOTE: PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK WORK HISTORY ATTACHED, ALSO TIRES WERE REPLACED,HEATER BOOSTER WAS REPLACED,ALSO WIPER ARM WAS ADJUSTED. *TT
20011019VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THROTTLE CABLE FOR A 1997 FREIGHTLINER, FS65 SCHOOL BUS HAS SNAPPED APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES, LEAVING VEHICLE INOPERABLE UNTIL REPAIRS COULD BE MADE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY BOTH DEALERSHIP AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MECHANICS. INCIDENT DATES INCLUDED 04/XX/1998/05/25/2001, AND 10/13/2001. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *NOTE: PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK WORK HISTORY ATTACHED, ALSO TIRES WERE REPLACED,HEATER BOOSTER WAS REPLACED,ALSO WIPER ARM WAS ADJUSTED. *TT
20011019TIRES
THROTTLE CABLE FOR A 1997 FREIGHTLINER, FS65 SCHOOL BUS HAS SNAPPED APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES, LEAVING VEHICLE INOPERABLE UNTIL REPAIRS COULD BE MADE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY BOTH DEALERSHIP AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MECHANICS. INCIDENT DATES INCLUDED 04/XX/1998/05/25/2001, AND 10/13/2001. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *NOTE: PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK WORK HISTORY ATTACHED, ALSO TIRES WERE REPLACED,HEATER BOOSTER WAS REPLACED,ALSO WIPER ARM WAS ADJUSTED. *TT
Compare 1997FREIGHTLINERSCHOOL BUS 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 1997 FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS have?▼
The 1997 FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS and EQUIPMENT.
Is the 1997 FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS 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.