RoadVitals

1998 Freightliner Business Class Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

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
Recall campaignsA 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
Newest Mar 21, 2003
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
0
Open 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.
0
1 investigation on file

Recall campaigns

5 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

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

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

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

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

Aug 7, 2000
35,405 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-266View on NHTSA.gov

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Mar 29, 1999
142 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A BENDIX ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE REAR AXLE ABS MODULATING VALVES MAY BE PLUMBED INCORRECTLY.
The risk: THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR AXLE SERVICE BRAKES, WHEN IN THE ABS MODE, TO NOT MODULATE AS INTENDED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE ABS MODULATING VALVE SUPPLY AND OUTLET PORT FOR CORRECT PLUMBING AND RE-PLUMB IF NECESSARY.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-232View on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A 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.
Safety investigation
NHTSA 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.
Manufacturer communication
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.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and it is not a recall.

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources