Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1996 Freightliner FL-70

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control › cables. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control › Cables2
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control03V246000
Filed Jul 10, 200362 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES ON THE C8.3G AND L10G ENGINES, THE ECM DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DETECT A THROTTLE FAIL-SAFE ENGINE SHUTDOWN COMMAND. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNANTICIPATED, UNCOMMANDED OPEN THROTTLE CONDITION WITHOUT WARNING.

Risk. IF THIS EVENT OCCURS, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WILL NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE ENGINE SPEED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE ECM. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-503-745-5219.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift97V052000
Filed Apr 8, 19975,997 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VANS AND TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER THAT INCLUDES A PARK BRAKE POSITION. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER/PARK BRAKE LEVER CAN BIND BEFORE FULLY ENGAGING IN THE PARK BRAKE POSITION CAUSING A FALSE PARK CONDITION.

Risk. THE VEHICLE CAN MOVE AFTER BEING PLACED IN PARK INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPACER PLATE IN THE SHIFTER AND INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF AN "E" CLIP THAT DETAINS THE DETENT PIN.

Suspension › Rear96V233003
Filed Nov 20, 19961,410 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

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.

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.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Dec 14, 2000NY

THE ACCELERATOR STICKS TO THE FLOOR DUE TO ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILURE. *YH

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Dec 14, 2000NY

CONSUMER STATES THAT ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS TO FLOOR DUE TO A FRAYED CABLE. *TT

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20021100Routine
20004000Routine
19995100Routine
199819110Routine
19973300Routine
1996 — this page2300Routine
19951500Routine
19942400Routine
19932500Routine
19920600Routine
19910700Routine

Compare every FL-70 year →

Other Freightliner models

All Freightliner models →
Cascadia 250Freightliner 129Columbia 96Conventional 73Business Class M2 54Century 53Sprinter 2500 49FS-65 33M2 30FLD120 29

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 10, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.