Illustration1996 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONALLY DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTIONED AND BROKE OFF. *TS THE DRIVETRAIN LANDED IN THE ROAD WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. POSSIBLE UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. THE DRIVESHAFT HAD BEEN CHANGED ABOUT A MONTH PRIOR TO ITS FAILURE. *NM
1996 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 5 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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 reports3 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reportsDT: CONTACT STATES THE BRAKE PADS ON A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK HIS FORMER BOSS OWNS ARE RUBBED DOWN INTO THE RIVETS OF THE HUB. THE TIRES DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH RUBBER ON THEM AND THE MOTOR IS LEAKING OIL. THERE ARE ALSO NO BC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ON THE TRUCK. *NM
WHILE TRAVELING, THE CONSUMER OBSERVED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STOPPED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER SAW FIRE ON THE AREA OF THE WHEELS. CONSUMER STATED THAT UPON PUTTING OUT THE INTIAL FIRE, HEARD AN EXPLOSION THAT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BURST. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT (10-89-92) *YH *YH …
Read full complaint
WHILE TRAVELING, THE CONSUMER OBSERVED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STOPPED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER SAW FIRE ON THE AREA OF THE WHEELS. CONSUMER STATED THAT UPON PUTTING OUT THE INTIAL FIRE, HEARD AN EXPLOSION THAT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BURST. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT (10-89-92) *YH *YH
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED A FIRE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE FIRE CHIEF STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNDER THE DASHBOARD, CONSUMER STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE BEFORE, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC
WIRING FAILURE RESULTING IN ENGINE FIRE.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).
Official recalls
196V233003 · Suspension:rear
Nov 20, 1996
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EATON DRIVE AXLES AND AXILOK SPINDLE NUTS. THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THIS TAB IS DEFORMED, THE NUT CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.
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.