IllustrationDRIVESHAFT FELL OFF CAUSING DAMAGE TO UNIT.
1986 Freightliner Conventional
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Conventional years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reportsOfficial recalls
688V160000 · Steering:linkages
Oct 11, 1988
STEERING ARM MAY FAIL IF USED ON EATON EFA12F4 FROM AXLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ROSS HFB70 POWER STEERING GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FAILED STEERING GEAR ARM COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A NONADJUSTABLE 1500 PSI POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE TO LIMIT STEERING ARM FORCES. REPLACE STEERING ARM WITH A DESIGN CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING HIGHER FORCES. ADJUST MAXIMUM POPPET VALVE SETTINGS TO 500 PSI AND ADJUST AXLE STOPS.
87V192000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Dec 18, 1987
FASTENER THAT CONNECTS THE HARNESS BELT D RING TO THE B PILLAR MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FULL THREAD ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ANCHORAGE WELD NUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT BELTS COULD FAIL AND NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT THEOCCUPANT.
Remedy: REPLACE MOUNTING HARDWARE WITH HEX SHOULDER BOLT AND .55 INCH SPACER.
87V147000 · Service Brakes, Air:drum:chamber
Sep 15, 1987
INCORRECT SIZE AIR BRAKE ACTUATOR CHAMBERS WERE INSTALLED ON THE DRIVE AXLES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: REPLACE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE CHAMBERS WITH CORRECT SIZE CHAMBERS.
87V020000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables
Feb 19, 1987
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHORT CIRCUIT COULD RESULT IN TRUCKS CATCHING FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE EXISTING PICTURE FRAME TYPE BATTERY RETAINER WITH AN I FRAME RETAINER AND INSTALL CONVOLUTED TUBING OVER POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE.
86V137000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor
Oct 20, 1986
SEAT BELTS CAN LOOSEN AS THE TRUCK IS DRIVEN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: DRIVER AND PASSENGER WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR CRASH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPLACE THE NON LOCKING RETRACTOR SEAT BELTS WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR SEAT BELTS.
86V118000 · Structure:body
Aug 26, 1986
THE HANDHOLD MOUNTING SYSTEM, WHICH CONSISTS OF A TUBULAR HANDLE HELD IN THREE PLACES BY CAST ALUMINUM BRACKETS AND ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST MUFFLER HEAT SHIELD. VIBRATION FROM THIS SYSTEM CAUSES THE HANDHOLD PARTS TO WEAR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE PARTS WEAR THIN THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT THE HANDHOLD MIGHT GIVE WAY UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A DRIVER. THIS COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPLACE THE END BRACKETS WITH A MODIFIED DESIGN UTILIZING A RUBBER ISOLATER. ALSO, ADD A PLASTIC SLEEVE TO THE CENTER BRACKET FOR ISOLATION.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.