RoadVitals

1998 Freightliner Business Class

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
0
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Mar 21, 2003
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Freightliner Business Class. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 7 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
03V112000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

Mar 21, 2003
5,716 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
The remedy: 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.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-407View on NHTSA.gov
02V108001

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE

Apr 10, 2002
548 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR BRAND 12" X 4" DCM DRUM PARKING BRAKE, THE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FLANGE YOKE ARE TOO LARGE AND CAN INTERFERE WITH THE PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY DISENGAGE.
The risk: IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ATTACHING BOLTS WITH THE CORRECT SIZE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 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.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-395View on NHTSA.gov
00V357000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS, PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Nov 3, 2000
105,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD THAT ACTIVATES THE SERVICE BRAKES COULD FRACTURE.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-276View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA02036ClosedEngineering Analysis

ABS CORROSION EXTENDS STOPPING DIST

Opened Dec 11, 2002
Closed Jan 26, 2004

THE TONE RING TOOTH PROFILE OF AN UNCOATED HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKE DEGRADES AFTER EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENTS.WHEN THE TONE RING TOOTH PROFILE HAS DEGRADED IN FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES RELIABLY TO WARN THE OPERATOR TO HAVE THE ABS SYSTEM SERVICED.IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INQUIRY, FREIGHTLINER HAS ISSUED INFORMATION TO ALL AFFECTED OWNERS THAT ALERTS OWNERS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONDING TO THE ILLUMINATED ABS WARNING LIGHT.FREIGHTLINER ADOPTED COATED ROTORS DURING 2002 (DATE VARIES BY MODEL). SINCE NEITHER ODI NOR FREIGHTLINER HAVE ACCURATE DATA TO FORECAST THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF COATED ROTORS, ODI PLANS TO CONDUCT A FUTURE SURVEY AT FREIGHTLINER (IN 18-24 MONTHS) TO EVALUATE THE DURABILITY OF THE COATED ROTORS.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

sb0036

EQUIPMENT

Operating Hours for the Customer Assistance Center

sb2028

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

sb2028 Engine Coolant Changes

sb2032

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

sb2032 Gates PowerGrip Hose Clamps, Replacement

sb2056

POWER TRAIN

sb2056 Transmission Oil Line Removal and Installation

sb2057

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

sb2057 New Surge Tank Design

SB-33-24

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL; POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS; WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

FREIGHTLINER TRUCK: STEER AXLE MAINTENANCE, AAC AND MERITOR 6000LB AND 8000LB AXLES: THIS BULLETIN IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE TO BE ADDED TO DTNA MAINTENANCE MANUALS FOR ALL MODELS WITH THESE AXLE RATINGS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THESE PROCEDURES BE ADOPTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Freightliner Business Class by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003710—
2002050—
2001060—
2000190—
1999150—
1998Viewing051—
1997261—
1996051—
1995240—
1994030—
1993020—
1992020—
1991020—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.