RoadVitals

1996 Freightliner Conventional

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

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.
5
Latest Dec 1, 2006
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.
1
Latest Nov 20, 1996
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
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.
3

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Freightliner Conventional, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, brakes and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 18 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels228.6%
  • Brakes114.3%
  • Electrical114.3%
  • Engine114.3%
  • Interior & seats114.3%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign 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
96V233003

SUSPENSION:REAR

Nov 20, 1996
1,410 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EATON DRIVE AXLES AND AXILOK SPINDLE NUTS. THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.
The risk: THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THIS TAB IS DEFORMED, THE NUT CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 1, 2006

1996 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONALLY DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTIONED AND BROKE OFF. *TS THE DRIVETRAIN LANDED IN THE ROAD WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. POSSIBLE UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. THE DRIVESHAFT HAD BEEN CHANGED ABOUT A MONTH PRIOR TO ITS FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10176449
Incident
Sep 13, 2006
BrakesEngineTires & wheels
Filed Nov 15, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATES THE BRAKE PADS ON A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK HIS FORMER BOSS OWNS ARE RUBBED DOWN INTO THE RIVETS OF THE HUB. THE TIRES DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH RUBBER ON THEM AND THE MOTOR IS LEAKING OIL. THERE ARE ALSO NO BC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ON THE TRUCK. *NM

NHTSA ID
10142776
Incident
Nov 12, 2005
Tires & wheels
Filed May 17, 2002
Fire reported

WHILE TRAVELING, THE CONSUMER OBSERVED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STOPPED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER SAW FIRE ON THE AREA OF THE WHEELS. CONSUMER STATED THAT UPON PUTTING OUT THE INTIAL FIRE, HEARD AN EXPLOSION THAT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BURST. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT (10-89-92) *YH *YH

NHTSA ID
565796
Incident
Mar 27, 2002
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 15, 2002
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED A FIRE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE FIRE CHIEF STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNDER THE DASHBOARD, CONSUMER STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE BEFORE, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
564737
Incident
Jan 13, 2002
Electrical
Filed Sep 16, 1998
Fire reported

WIRING FAILURE RESULTING IN ENGINE FIRE.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).

NHTSA ID
540870
Incident
Aug 16, 1998

Manufacturer communications

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

sb2001

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

sb2001 Block Heater Location in L10 Engines With Low-Flow Cooling

sb2002

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

sb2002 Unplugging Engine Block Heaters

sb2020

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

sb2020 Index Fan Control System Diagnostics

sb2021

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

sb2021 Shunt Tube Alternator Bracket Bolt Interference

sb2024

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

sb2024 Horton Fan Clutch Changes

sb2026

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

sb2026 Fan Radiator Interference

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 Conventional by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018100—
2017000—
2016000—
2015000—
2014000—
2013000—
2012000—
2011000—
2010000—
2009000—
2008200—
2007400—
2006000—
2005000—
2004000—
2003000—
2002210—
2001700—
2000120047.2
1999110033.6
1998500—
1997500—
1996Viewing510—
1995700—
1994100—
1993600—
1992200—
1991200—
1990101—
1989101—
1988021—
1987041—
1986160—
1985070—
1984140—
1983040—
1982020—
1979020—
1978010—
1977020—
1976020—
1975010—

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.