1997 Freightliner FL-70

Routine

Owners filed 3 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 › Cables1
000
Tires1
000
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Air Suspension System › Lines and Fittings1
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.

Parking Brake › Driveline99V085000
Filed Apr 20, 19991,935 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVELINE PARKING BRAKE. THE FASTENERS THAT CONNECT THE END OF TRANSMISSION COMPANION FLANGE TO THE PARK DRUM AND DRIVELINE MAY LOOSEN.

Risk. IF THIS IS UNDETECTED, THE FASTENERS MAY FATIGUE AND EVENTUALLY SHEAR OFF ALLOWING THE DRIVELINE TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FLANGE FASTENERS FOR PROPER TORQUE AND REPLACE ANY FASTENERS FOUND LOOSE. IF THE FASTENERS ARE FOUND TO BE PROPERLY TORQUED, THEY WILL BE REMOVED, PERMALOCK WILL BE ADDED, AND THEN RETORQUED TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires
Filed Dec 1, 2006CA

1997 FREIGHTLINER FL70 TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING. *TS THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S LEFT TIRE, LET HEADLIGHT, LEFT STEP, LEFT FENDER, LEFT DOOR, AND HOOD. *NM

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Air Suspension System › Lines and Fittings
Filed Jul 25, 2003198,069 milesFL

WHILE TRAVELING @ 54 MPH, LOOADED WITH 36 THOUSAND POUNDS OF SHELL TO A JOBSITE NORTHBOUND ON HWY 41 ON THE INSIDE LANE, WENT OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS, AND DUE TO POOR DEPRESSION HUMP ON RAILROAD TRACKS CAUSED VEHICLE TO BLOW OUT AIRBAG AND PISTON WHICH REQUIRED REPAIR COSTING OUR COMPANY $415.02, AND A LOSS OF WORK TO OUR COMPANY COSTING US A TOTAL OF $991.81 FOR THE DELIVERY OF MATERIALS TO A JOB LOST DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO PERFORM THE WORK AS REQUIRED. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Dec 14, 2000NY

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

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20021100Routine
20004000Routine
19995100Routine
199819110Routine
1997 — this page3300Routine
19962300Routine
19951500Routine
19942400Routine
19932500Routine
19920600Routine
19910700Routine

Compare every FL-70 year →

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.