- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Cracks in a hub flange can result in a wheel separation.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace the front hubs with an improved design level 2 hub.
Vehicle safety record
1996 Freightliner FLD Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 1996 Freightliner FLD with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (1). Those complaints describe 1 fire. It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in November 1997 for the hub. For comparison, the 1995 has 0 and the 1997 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical FLD year, for its age
#327 most complained-about 1996 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1996 Freightliner FLD problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1996 Freightliner FLD recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Corrosion can occur in the foot brake valve adapter bore and plunger due to water and road salt intrusion.
- The risk
- Accumulated corrosion and water intrusion can result in the plunger sticking, especially during extremely cold weather service.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace the brake valve adapter with an improved design that has full face contact with the gasket.
- The problem
- 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 of the engine will occur.
- The risk
- If unintentional cranking of the engine occurs, persons working in the vicinity of the engine could be injured and the vehicle could move.
- The fix
- Detroit diesel distributors will rewire the vehicles using a revised ecm which will eliminate unintentional cranking.
- The problem
- The bunk support bracket can fracture allowing the bunk to drop.
- The risk
- The bunk could fall without warning striking an occupant sitting in the lower bunk causing personal injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a bunk support bracket reinforcement kit.
- The problem
- The bolts used to mount the brake assemblies to the axles may have cracks from improper heat treatment.
- The risk
- These cracks could cause the bolts to fail allowing the brake assemblies to separate from the axles increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace all brake mounting bolts.
What owners say
Be the first FLD owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
1 complaints about the 1996 Freightliner FLD
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Electrical wiring shorted out resulting in fire. (Qcaw)
Freightliner FLD: every year compared
All FLD years1996 Freightliner FLD vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Freightliner FLD | 1 | 5 | C | |
| 1996 Freightliner Conventional | 5 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Freightliner FL-60 | 2 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 1996 Freightliner FL-70 | 2 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 1996 Freightliner FLD120 | 2 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 1996 Freightliner Classic | 1 | 0 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1996 Freightliner FLD
Does the 1996 Freightliner FLD have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 1996 Freightliner FLD: hub (November 1997); foot control / valve (January 1997); vehicle speed control (September 1996); recreational vehicle / trailer (July 1996) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Freightliner FLD?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (1).
How many complaints has the 1996 Freightliner FLD had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on August 5, 1998 and the latest on August 5, 1998. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1996 Freightliner FLD a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 41 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Freightliner FLD year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Freightliner FLD years have the most complaints?
1998 (2), 1996 (1), 2001 (1). See every Freightliner FLD year compared.
What should I do if my 1996 Freightliner FLD has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data