1988 Freightliner Freightliner recalls & complaints

1. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. THE SPRING BRAKE CHAMBERS MOUNTED ON TAG AXLES WITH MOUNTING STUDS ALIGNED HORIZONTALLY INSTEAD OF VERTICALLY CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE BRAKE CHAMBER HOUSING BASE WHICH LIMITS THE APPLICATION OF SERVICE BRAKES ON THE AFFECTED WHEEL.

What could happen: LIMITED APPLICATION OF SERVICE BRAKES ON A WHEELINCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

The fix: REPLACE THE BRAKE CHAMBERS WITH CHAMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN REINFORCED FOR HORIZONTAL MOUNTING.

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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 93V069000.
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. Steering

What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. THERE MAY BE EXCESSIVE TORQUING OF THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLTS.

What could happen: BOLTS COULD FRACTURE, ADVERSELY AFFECTING STEERINGCONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

The fix: REPLACE SUSPECT PINCH 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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 89V083000.
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. Steering

What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. CERTAIN STEERING GEAR PITMAN ARM PINCH BOLTS MAY BE DEFECTIVE; ALSO, TORQUING MAY HAVE BEEN ABOVE SPECIFICATION.

What could happen: BOLTS COULD FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROLWITH POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

The fix: REPLACE PITMAN ARM PINCH 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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 89V082000.
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. Wheels / tires

What's wrong, in plain English: A wheel or tire can fail while driving. NUTS THAT RETAIN THE WHEEL HUBS ON THE TANDEM DRIVE AXLES MAY NOT BE PROPERLY TORQUED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.

What could happen: WHEEL COULD COME OFF WHILE TRUCK IS IN SERVICE; THISCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

The fix: PROPERLY TORQUE LEFT SIDE DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE JAM NUTS ON BOTH FORWARD AND REAR DRIVE AXLES; REPLACE ANY LOOSE WHEEL HUB NUTS.

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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 89V154000.
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. Electrical system

What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires. RESONATORS USED IN MANUFACTURING OF VIGIL II LIGHTBARS MAY CAUSE UNPREDICTABLE OPERATION.

What could happen: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS, HAZARD WARNINGLIGHTS, HIGH BEAM INDICATOR, OR LOW AIR WARNING SIGNAL.

The fix: REPLACE SUSPECT LIGHT BARS.

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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 88V148000.
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.

6. Seats

What's wrong, in plain English: Seat frames, adjusters or child-seat anchors. THE SEAT INSERT MATERIAL DOES NOT MEET THE FLAMMABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 302.

What could happen: TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 302.

The fix: REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL SUSPECT SEAT UPHOLSTERY.

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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 89V134000.
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.

7. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. TRUCKS WILL EXPERIENCE REDUCED BRAKING AT LOW BRAKE APPLICATION PRESSURES WHEN OPERATING IN THE BOBTAIL MODE.

What could happen: REDUCED BRAKING CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

The fix: REPLACE FRONT AXLE RATIO VALVES WITH STANDARD VALVING THAT DOES NOT REDUCE APPLICATION PRESSURE.

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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 89V129000.
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.

8. Seat belts

What's wrong, in plain English: Seat belts may not hold you in a crash. WHEN SEAT BELTS ARE NOT BEING WORN, ABRADING OF THE WEBBING MAY OCCUR AT THE D-RING.

What could happen: SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN CASEOF AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN MORE SERIOUS INJURIES.

The fix: REPLACE SEAT BELT WEBBING.

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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 89V020000.
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.

9. Steering

What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. NUTS THAT RETAIN THE STEERING AND TIE ROD ARMS MAY CRACK WHILE TIGHTENING, DUE TO A DEEP BAR DEFECT.

What could happen: STEERING CAPABILITIES COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.

The fix: REPLACE THE STEERING LEVER NUTS. IF NUTS ARE CRACKED, MOUNTING STUDS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.

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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 88V167000.
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.

10. Body / structure

What's wrong, in plain English: Body panels, frame, doors, hood, trunk or latches. THE WELDED GUSSETT SUPPORTING THE LOWER FUEL TANK STEP IS OF INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH.

What could happen: STEPS COULD BREAK AWAY AND POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY TO USER.

The fix: INSTALL AN END PLATE THAT WILL TIE TOGETHER UPPER AND LOWER STEPS ADDING SUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO SUPPORT THE LOWER STEP.

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 1988 FREIGHTLINER.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Freightliner dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 88V088000.
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: Body / structure (1).

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