The 1998 Freightliner Fld has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 44,514 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION03V1120002003-03-215,716 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
Consequence
SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS CONVERTED FROM SLEEPERCABS TO DAY CABS AND EQUIPPED WITH A DETROIT DIESEL OPTIMIZED IDLE SYSTEM. THE IDLE SYSTEM WAS NOT COMPLETELY DISABLED IN THE CAB CONVERSION PROCESS.
Consequence
THIS CAN RESULT IN UNINTENTIONAL ENGINE STARTING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL COMPLETELY DISABLE THE OPTIMIZED IDLE SYSTEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 3, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR00V2320022000-08-0735,405 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END…
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.
SUSPENSION99V2950001999-10-262,976 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE OUTBOARD BEARING ON THE STEERING AXLE HUBS CAN FAIL DUE TO WATER INTRUSION THROUGH A HUBCAP VENT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HUBCAP AND INSPECT FOR WATER INTRUSION AND CORROSION. THE HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. A NON-VENTED HUBCAP WILL BE INSTALLED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM99V1810021999-07-27320 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND EATON AUTOSHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. THE ENGINES CAN STALL BECAUSE OF SOFTWARE PROBLEMS.
Consequence
INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN OCCUR.
Remedy
CATERPILLAR IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THIS RECALL. DEALERS WILL UPDATE THESE ENGINES WITH SOFTWARE CHANGES.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
1
Total complaints2
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Consumer stated while driving, he noticed a vibration, which became rapidly severe, consumer then heard a noise and there was also a smell of hot oil, the semi lost all power, consumer coasted to a stop, and after exiting the semi, consumer discovered the drive shaft had broke off while on the…”
“The front axle failed while driving causing loss of control and collision with guardrail (ohio traffic crash report). *mjs”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Freightliner Fld as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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