1996 Freightliner Fld recalls & complaints

1. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. CORROSION CAN OCCUR IN THE FOOT BRAKE VALVE ADAPTER BORE AND PLUNGER DUE TO WATER AND ROAD SALT INTRUSION.

What could happen: ACCUMULATED CORROSION AND WATER INTRUSION CAN RESULT IN THE PLUNGER STICKING, ESPECIALLY DURING EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER SERVICE.

The fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE BRAKE VALVE ADAPTER WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN THAT HAS FULL FACE CONTACT WITH THE GASKET.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1996 FLD.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 97V009000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

2. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. THE BOLTS USED TO MOUNT THE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES TO THE AXLES MAY HAVE CRACKS FROM IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT.

What could happen: THESE CRACKS COULD CAUSE THE BOLTS TO FAIL ALLOWING THE BRAKE ASSEMBLIES TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLES INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

The fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE MOUNTING BOLTS.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1996 FLD.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 96V043000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

3. Suspension

What's wrong, in plain English: Parts can break and cause loss of control. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DESIGN LEVEL 1, ROCKWELL FF980 SERIES FRONT AXLE. THE FRONT AXLE HUB FLANGE CAN DEVELOP CRACKS DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS.

What could happen: CRACKS IN A HUB FLANGE CAN RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION.

The fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE FRONT HUBS WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN LEVEL 2 HUB.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1996 FLD.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 97V196001.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

4. Vehicle Speed Control

What's wrong, in plain English: A vehicle part that may fail. THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A DETROIT DIESEL OPTIMIZED IDLE SYSTEM. IF THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON AND THE FUSE FOR THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) POWER FEED LINE IS REMOVED OR BURNED OUT, THE SAFETY FEATURES DESIGNED TO PREVENT INJURY TO PERSONS WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE WILL BE BYPASSED, AND UNINTENTIONAL CRANKING OF THE ENGINE WILL OCCUR.

What could happen: IF UNINTENTIONAL CRANKING OF THE ENGINE OCCURS, PERSONS WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE COULD BE INJURED AND THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE.

The fix: DETROIT DIESEL DISTRIBUTORS WILL REWIRE THE VEHICLES USING A REVISED ECM WHICH WILL ELIMINATE UNINTENTIONAL CRANKING.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1996 FLD.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 96V181001.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

5. Equipment

What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. THE BUNK SUPPORT BRACKET CAN FRACTURE ALLOWING THE BUNK TO DROP.

What could happen: THE BUNK COULD FALL WITHOUT WARNING STRIKING AN OCCUPANT SITTING IN THE LOWER BUNK CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.

The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BUNK SUPPORT BRACKET REINFORCEMENT KIT.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1996 FLD.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 96V125000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Most complained-about parts: Electrical system (1).

Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.