1996 Freightliner MT45 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1996 Freightliner MT45. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1996 Freightliner MT45
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Cables (vehicle speed control)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The throttle cable can bind due to misalignment with the fuel pump assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will realign the cable bracket. The cable assembly will be inspected for damage and replaced as necessary.
-
Connecting (steering)
Vehicle description: step vans equipped with spicer 6,000 or 8,000 lb. Front steer axles. The tie rod end can pull outboard and separate from the tie rod tube due to improper thread engagement between the male tie rod end and the female tube.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the complete tie rod assembly.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1996 Freightliner MT45. 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 MT45 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Freightliner MT45 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Freightliner MT45 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 Freightliner MT45 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 Freightliner MT45 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 Freightliner MT45 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 Freightliner MT45 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 Freightliner MT45 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 Freightliner MT45 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 Freightliner MT45 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 Freightliner MT45 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010 Freightliner MT45 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 Freightliner MT45 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 Freightliner MT45 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 Freightliner MT45 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 Freightliner MT45 | 2 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1996 Freightliner MT45
How do I know if my 1996 Freightliner MT45 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 MT45; 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 99V033003).
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.