Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Freightliner Conventional, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, driver assistance and electrical categories. 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 2 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 4 |
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 5 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
1997 CONVENTIONAL FRONT STEER TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, STRUCK A DITCH CONTINUED ON THROUGH THE RIGHT-OF-WAY FENCE ACROSS A FIELD AND STRUCK ANOTHER FENCE AND SEVERAL TREES. *JB
WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING BOARD, FRONT AXLE, AND FENDER. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL FASTENERS ON THE #2 AXLE WAS MISSING. THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE DRUM HAD SEVERAL EXTERNAL CRACKS (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM
VEHICLE STRUCK A MUD FLAP THAT SEPARATED FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO TRAILER TIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TIRE AND MUD FLAP BRACKET HIT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON A TRAILER DRIVEN BY ANOTHER GENTLEMAN TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE. *PH
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER FELT A BAD SHIMMY COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WAS HIT IN THE HEAD WHEN A PORTABLE TV FELL ON HIM, WHEN VEHICLE WENT OFF HIGHWAY, IT STRUCK A GUARDRAIL, FENCE, UTILITY POLE, AND SEVERAL TREES, THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD WORN ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD, CAUSING A SHIMMY, AFTER THE INCIDENT, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY A 6 INCH WIDE TEAR IN THE SIDEWALL AND WAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM BEADS OF THE RIM, POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE, BRIDGESTONE P285/74R24.5, MODEL R299, LF93PSI, POSSIBLE STEERING PROBLEM. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC
THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE OVER 209 DAYS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF FREIGHTLINER HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
sb2001 Block Heater Location in L10 Engines With Low-Flow Cooling
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
sb2002 Unplugging Engine Block Heaters
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
sb2020 Index Fan Control System Diagnostics
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
sb2021 Shunt Tube Alternator Bracket Bolt Interference
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
sb2024 Horton Fan Clutch Changes
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 47.2 |
| 1999 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 33.6 |
| 1998 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1997Viewing | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1986 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.