1998 Freightliner FLD Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other FLD years
- Not enough data 1st of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Freightliner FLD. That is the most of any FLD model year in the database (15 years). The most reported problem area is power train (2 complaints, 100%). There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Freightliner FLD problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 | 100% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Freightliner FLD recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:front:hub
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with truck hub units manufactured by skf exclusively for use on arvinmeritor's ff98x series non-drive steer axles, the hub unit bearings can wear prematurely.
Risk: Seizure of the bearings can cause wheel separation or wheel end fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front hubs. Owner notification is expected to begin on or before september 20, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: Certain heavy duty trucks converted from sleepercabs to day cabs and equipped with a detroit diesel optimized idle system. The idle system was not completely disabled in the cab conversion process.
Risk: This can result in unintentional engine starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will completely disable the optimized idle system. Owner notification began april 3, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Service brakes, air:antilock
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks and school bus chassis built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.
Risk: This condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the abs ecu.
Suspension:front:hub
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The outboard bearing on the steering axle hubs can fail due to water intrusion through a hubcap vent.
Risk: This condition can result in a separation of the wheel.
Fix: Dealers will remove the hubcap and inspect for water intrusion and corrosion. The hub and bearing assembly will be replaced if there is evidence of corrosion. A non-vented hubcap will be installed.
Electrical system:ignition:module
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with caterpillar engines and eaton autoshift transmissions. The engines can stall because of software problems.
Risk: Increased steering effort can occur.
Fix: Caterpillar is conducting the owner notification and remedy of this recall. Dealers will update these engines with software changes.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Consumer stated while driving, he noticed a vibration, which became rapidly severe, consumer then heard a noise and there was also a smell of hot oil, the semi lost all power, consumer coasted to a stop, and after exiting the semi, consumer discovered the drive shaft had broke off while on the…
The front axle failed while driving causing loss of control and collision with guardrail (ohio traffic crash report). *mjs
Other Freightliner FLD years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 FLD | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 FLD | 0 | 8 |
| 2009 FLD | 0 | 7 |
| 2008 FLD | 1 | 10 |
| 2007 FLD | 0 | 10 |
| 2006 FLD | 0 | 7 |
| 2005 FLD | 1 | 3 |
| 2004 FLD | 1 | 6 |
| 2001 FLD | 1 | 4 |
| 2000 FLD | 1 | 8 |
| 1999 FLD | 1 | 8 |
| 1998 | 2 | 5 |
| 1997 FLD | 1 | 2 |
| 1996 FLD | 1 | 5 |
| 1995 FLD | 0 | 3 |
See all Freightliner FLD problems by year, every Freightliner model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Freightliner models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Freightliner FLD?
Owners most often report power train problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Freightliner FLD?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Freightliner FLD a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other FLD model years, the 1998 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.