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1997 Freightliner Conventional

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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.

  • Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 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.

1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

5 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2006
TiresCrashInjury

1997 CONVENTIONAL FRONT STEER TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, STRUCK A DITCH CONTINUED ON THROUGH THE RIGHT-OF-WAY FENCE ACROSS A FIELD AND STRUCK ANOTHER FENCE AND SEVERAL TREES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166930

Mileage unknown · Dec 24, 2003
Electrical SystemService Brakes, AirWheels

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING BOARD, FRONT AXLE, AND FENDER. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL FASTENERS ON THE #2 AXLE WAS MISSING. THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE RIGHT FRONT BR…

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WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING BOARD, FRONT AXLE, AND FENDER. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL FASTENERS ON THE #2 AXLE WAS MISSING. THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE DRUM HAD SEVERAL EXTERNAL CRACKS (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

NHTSA ODI #10052208

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2003
Tires

VEHICLE STRUCK A MUD FLAP THAT SEPARATED FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO TRAILER TIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TIRE AND MUD FLAP BRACKET HIT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON A TRAILER DRIVEN BY ANOTHER GENTLEMAN TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE. …

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VEHICLE STRUCK A MUD FLAP THAT SEPARATED FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO TRAILER TIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TIRE AND MUD FLAP BRACKET HIT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON A TRAILER DRIVEN BY ANOTHER GENTLEMAN TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10048316

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2001
SteeringTiresInjury

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER FELT A BAD SHIMMY COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WAS HIT IN THE HEAD WHEN A PORTABLE TV FELL ON HIM, WHEN VEHICLE WENT OFF HIGHWAY, IT STRUCK A GUARDRAIL, FENCE, UTILITY POLE, AND SEVERAL TREES, THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE…

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WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER FELT A BAD SHIMMY COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WAS HIT IN THE HEAD WHEN A PORTABLE TV FELL ON HIM, WHEN VEHICLE WENT OFF HIGHWAY, IT STRUCK A GUARDRAIL, FENCE, UTILITY POLE, AND SEVERAL TREES, THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD WORN ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD, CAUSING A SHIMMY, AFTER THE INCIDENT, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY A 6 INCH WIDE TEAR IN THE SIDEWALL AND WAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM BEADS OF THE RIM, POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE, BRIDGESTONE P285/74R24.5, MODEL R299, LF93PSI, POSSIBLE STEERING PROBLEM. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC

NHTSA ODI #563744

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE OVER 209 DAYS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF FREIGHTLINER HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708021

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.