1996 Freightliner Fld Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 1996 Freightliner Fld, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 1996 Freightliner Fld
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Hub (suspension)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with design level 1, rockwell ff980 series front axle. The front axle hub flange can develop cracks due to high stress levels.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the front hubs with an improved design level 2 hub.
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Foot control/valve (service brakes)
Corrosion can occur in the foot brake valve adapter bore and plunger due to water and road salt intrusion.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the brake valve adapter with an improved design that has full face contact with the gasket.
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Vehicle speed control
These vehicles are equipped with a detroit diesel optimized idle system. If the ignition is turned on and the fuse for the electronic control module (ECM) power feed line is removed or burned out, the safety features designed to prevent injury to persons working in the vicinity of the engine will be bypassed, and unintentional cranking…
Remedy: Detroit diesel distributors will rewire the vehicles using a revised ECM which will eliminate unintentional cranking.
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Recreational vehicle/trailer (equipment)
The bunk support bracket can fracture allowing the bunk to drop.
Remedy: Dealers will install a bunk support bracket reinforcement kit.
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Service brakes, air
The bolts used to mount the brake assemblies to the axles may have cracks from improper heat treatment.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace all brake mounting bolts.
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Freightliner Fld have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Electrical wiring shorted out resulting in fire. (qcaw)”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 5, 1998 · Electrical system
Compare Freightliner Fld model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Freightliner Fld model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 Freightliner Fld | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 Freightliner Fld | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 Freightliner Fld | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 Freightliner Fld | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 Freightliner Fld | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 Freightliner Fld | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 Freightliner Fld | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 Freightliner Fld | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 Freightliner Fld | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 Freightliner Fld | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 Freightliner Fld | 5 | 1 |
| 1997 Freightliner Fld | 2 | 1 |
| 1998 Freightliner Fld | 5 | 2 |
| 1999 Freightliner Fld | 8 | 1 |
| 2000 Freightliner Fld | 8 | 1 |
| 2001 Freightliner Fld | 4 | 1 |
| 2004 Freightliner Fld | 6 | 1 |
| 2005 Freightliner Fld | 3 | 1 |
| 2006 Freightliner Fld | 7 | 0 |
| 2007 Freightliner Fld | 10 | 0 |
| 2008 Freightliner Fld | 10 | 1 |
| 2009 Freightliner Fld | 7 | 0 |
| 2010 Freightliner Fld | 8 | 0 |
| 2011 Freightliner Fld | 2 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1996 Freightliner Fld
How do I know if my 1996 Freightliner Fld has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1996 Freightliner Fld; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Freightliner dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V043000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Freightliner models
- Cascadia253 complaints
- Freightliner135 complaints
- Columbia96 complaints
- Conventional76 complaints
- Business Class M254 complaints
- Century53 complaints
- Sprinter 250049 complaints
- FL-7037 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.