1996 Freightliner FS-65 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1996 Freightliner FS-65. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1996 Freightliner FS-65
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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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
On certain school buses chassis equipped with caterpillar engines and hydraulic brakes. A braided ground strap for the starter may rub on a steel chassis brake line potentially causing a fluid leak.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake line and replace it, if necessary. The braided ground strap will be replaced with an insulated cable. The recall began on august 10, 2004. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
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Vehicle speed control
On certain school bus chassis with cummins isb engines with mechanical throttle, the throttle cable can vibrate excessively and break near the end fitting that attaches to the engine linkage.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the throttle cable with a new design. Owner notification began on february 17, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1996 Freightliner FS-65. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Freightliner FS-65 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Freightliner FS-65 model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 1996 Freightliner FS-65
How do I know if my 1996 Freightliner FS-65 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Freightliner FS-65; 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 02V248000).
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.