RoadVitals

1998 Freightliner Fs-65

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.
1
Latest Feb 23, 2012
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.
4
Latest Apr 27, 2005
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1998 Freightliner Fs-65, most frequently naming the electrical and engine categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Electrical150.0%
  • Engine150.0%

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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
05V205000

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Apr 27, 2005
16,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN 1998-2003 MY FREIGHTLINER FS-65 SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS AND MB-45, MB-55, AND XB SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS, AND THOMAS BUILT BUS: MVP-ER AND MVP-EF SCHOOL BUS AND NON-SCHOOL BUS MODELS EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES AND EQUIPPED WITH FEDERAL-MOGAL 12 AND 24 VOLT FUEL LIFT PUMPS. THE FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL TO TRANSFER FUEL APPROPRIATELY CREATING AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.
The risk: SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS OF FREIGHTLINER AND THOMAS BUILT AND REPLACE THE FUEL LIFT PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS.
FREIGHTLINER LLCManufacturer number FL-447View on NHTSA.gov
04V343000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Jul 12, 2004
3,200 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES. A BRAIDED GROUND STRAP FOR THE STARTER MAY RUB ON A STEEL CHASSIS BRAKE LINE POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FLUID LEAK.
The risk: A BRAKE FLUID LEAK CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE BRAIDED GROUND STRAP WILL BE REPLACED WITH AN INSULATED CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 10, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
FREIGHTLINER LLCManufacturer number FL-421View on NHTSA.gov
02V248000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Sep 16, 2002
818 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS WITH CUMMINS ISB ENGINES WITH MECHANICAL THROTTLE, THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY AND BREAK NEAR THE END FITTING THAT ATTACHES TO THE ENGINE LINKAGE.
The risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE WITH A NEW DESIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 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-398View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 23, 2012
Fire reported

NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS LOCATED IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY WAS IN ROUTE WITH SIX CHILDREN AND A DRIVER WHEN THE DRIVER SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DRIVER STOPPED THE BUS IN A SAFE AREA AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND SUCCESSFULLY UNLOADED THE CHILDREN TO A SAFE PLACE. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 7 MINUTES AFTER EVACUATION FIRE WAS SEEN IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PROCEEDED TO SPREAD THROUGH OUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AREA AND THEN TO THE REAR OF THE BUS BODY. THE BUS WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED WITH PRELIMINARY INDICATION THAT FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE REAR OF ENGINE WHERE WIRING HARNESS IS ROUTED AROUND METALLIC HEATER SHUTOFF VALVE. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHERE THE INTAKE HEATER WIRE CHAFFED THROUGH THE WIRE HOUSING AND CONVOLUTED TUBING FROM RUBBING THE HEATER VALVE CREATING A SHORT TO THE HEATER VALVE WHICH IS SPECULATED TO HAVE STARTED THE FIRE. THE FIRE THEN BREACHED THE FIRE WALL THROUGH THE ENGINE ACCESS COVER LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS SEEN BY THE DRIVER. MULTIPLE BUSES IN THE NORTH CAROLINA FLEET OF THE SAME YEAR RANGE HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND SIMILAR WIRE CHAFFING HAS BEEN DISCOVERED, HOWEVER AT THIS POINT NO ADDITIONAL FIRES HAVE OCCURRED. THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE FLEET IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL AGENCIES OPERATING THE BUSES TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT FURTHER CHAFFING UNTIL AN ACTUAL FIRE ORIGINATION IS CONFIRMED. UPDATED 02/27/12 *BF THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE RUBBING OF THE INTAKE HEATER WIRE AGAINST THE METALLIC HEATER SHUT OFF VALVE. OVERTIME, THE TUBING WAS DESTROYED AND THE WIRE COVERING WAS RUBBED THROUGH ITS CORE, POSSIBLY CAUSING A SHORT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. UPDATED 03/21/12 *TR

NHTSA ID
10449091
Incident
Feb 8, 2012
Mileage
188,497 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Freightliner Fs-65 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006010—
2005110—
2002531—
2001124146.1
2000126144.9
1999271—
1998Viewing140—
1997031—
1996020—

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.