RoadVitals

1997 Freightliner School Bus

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.
2
Latest Oct 19, 2001
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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Freightliner School Bus, most frequently naming the driver assistance, exterior lighting and other / unspecified categories. 5 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

  • Driver assistance233.3%
  • Exterior lighting116.7%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%
  • Visibility116.7%

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

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.

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistanceOther / unspecifiedTires & wheels+1 more
Filed Oct 19, 2001

THROTTLE CABLE FOR A 1997 FREIGHTLINER, FS65 SCHOOL BUS HAS SNAPPED APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES, LEAVING VEHICLE INOPERABLE UNTIL REPAIRS COULD BE MADE. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY BOTH DEALERSHIP AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MECHANICS. INCIDENT DATES INCLUDED 04/XX/1998/05/25/2001, AND 10/13/2001. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *NOTE: PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK WORK HISTORY ATTACHED, ALSO TIRES WERE REPLACED,HEATER BOOSTER WAS REPLACED,ALSO WIPER ARM WAS ADJUSTED. *TT

NHTSA ID
898001
Incident
Apr 24, 1998
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Oct 19, 2001

THROTTLE CABLE IN A 1997, FREIGHTLINER, FS65 SCHOOL BUS HAS SNAPPED SIX TIMES DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. BOTH, DEALER AND SCHOOL DISTRICT MECHANICS, HAVE MADE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH CONTINUED TO OCCUR. INCIDENT DATES INCLUDED 10/13/2000/11/29/2000/01/31/2001/02/22/2001/07/11/2001, AND 08/15/2001. *NOTE: PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK. ALSO HEAD LIGHT WAS REPLACED,KNOB ON AIR DOOR CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED*ET

NHTSA ID
897999
Incident
Jan 31, 2001

Manufacturer communications

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

SB-32-10

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM:SPRINGS/BAGS

FREIGHTLINER LLC: TROUBLESHOOTING FOR A MISALIGNMENT OF THE SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS. *RM

SB-31-2

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

FREIGHTLINER: FIVE PIECE (STANDARD) BOLTED CROSSMEMBERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR FIELD REPLACEMENT OF THE FIVE PIECE WELDED CROSSMEMBERS THAT ARE USED WITH STEEL FRAME RAILS. THE BOLTED CROSSMEMBER MAKES REPLACEMENT EASIER, SINCE IT CAN BE INSTALLED WITHOUT SPREADING THE FRAME RAILS; SPREADING THE FRAME RAILS ARE REQUIRED WITH A WELDED CROSSMEMBER. *PE

SB-82-1

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

FREIGHTLINER: WIPERS MAY SHUT DOWN WHILE IN LOW SPEED MODE DURING VERY HARD RAIN, SNOW, AND ICE. OPERATOR HAS TO USE HIGH SPEED MODE UNTIL IGNITION SWITCH HAS CYCLED. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE

SB-32-10

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS; SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

FREIGHTLINER: AIRLINER SUSPENSION AIR SPRING BAG MISALIGNMENT TROUBLESHOOTING. FREIGHTLINER AIRLINER 10K/12K/15K/18K/21K/23K REAR SUSPENSIONS HAVE SINGLE OR DUAL LEAF SPRINGS THAT SUPPORT THE BOTTOM OF THE AIR SPRING. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

SB-42-16

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FREIGHTLINER: RESERVOIR INTERNAL/EXTERNAL CHECK VALVE. CONTAMINATION IN THE WE/SECONDARY RESERVOIR, P/N 12-15476-000, MAY CAUSE THE INLINE CHECK VALVE TO BECOME CLOGGED OR STUCK CLOSED. THIS CAN RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT AIR BUILDUP. INCLUDES MODEL SCHOOL BUS, SHUTTLE BUS AND S2. 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.