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: 1 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.
Steering. 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 reports
76,389 miles · Feb 18, 2003
Steering
PROBLEM: BALL STUD & SOCKET ASSEMBLY SEPARATED. REVIEW NHTSA #OOV-246.001 TRUCK: 1997 FREIGHTLINER, FL-80 - SERIAL # [XXX] IN-SERVICE DATE: MAY 9, 1997 - MILEAGE 76,389 THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, DEPT. OF TRANS., HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF 1997 THRU 1999 FREIGHTLINER, FL-80 DUMP TRUCKS, USED FOR SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL. CANNO…
Read full complaint
PROBLEM: BALL STUD & SOCKET ASSEMBLY SEPARATED. REVIEW NHTSA #OOV-246.001 TRUCK: 1997 FREIGHTLINER, FL-80 - SERIAL # [XXX] IN-SERVICE DATE: MAY 9, 1997 - MILEAGE 76,389 THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, DEPT. OF TRANS., HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF 1997 THRU 1999 FREIGHTLINER, FL-80 DUMP TRUCKS, USED FOR SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL. CANNOT RECEIVED THE NHTSA BULLETIN #00V-246-001 PERTAINING TO BALL STUD AND SOCKET ASSEMBLIES COMING APART. FREIGHTLINER SENT ONLY A FEW NOTICES PERTAINING VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET. NONE OF THEM INCLUDED THE LARGE NUMBER OF 1997 FREIGHTLINER DUMP TRUCKS. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT TO STOP. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES REPORTED. THE FAILED BALL AND SOCKET SEPARATED IN THE EXACT SAME WAY AS NOTED IN THE FREIGHTLINER BULLETIN #FL396AB OR NHTSA #00V-246-001. ACTION REQUEST: EXTEND OR EXPAND THE RECALL OF THE TRW BALL & STUD AND SOCKET ASSEMBLIES TO INCLUDE OTHER VEHICLES BUILT USING THIS BALL & STUD ASSEMBLY. TIME FRAME SHOULD BE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE ANOTHER BALL STUD & SOCKET ASSEMBLY DOES NOT FAIL AND CAUSES AN INJURY OR DEATH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEADY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 36" REAR BRAKE CHAMBERS. THE BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT MEET THE AIR RESERVOIR VOLUME REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES.
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.
1997 Freightliner FL-80 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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