- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with hydraulic brakes and a durapark park brake system manufactured by arvinmeritor. Air is entering the hydraulic rear brake cylinders through an unknown path and the rear self-adjusting brakes may not be operating properly.
- The risk
- This results in spongy or soft feel to the brake pedal and a loss of rear braking capability.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace the abs ecu and inspect the brake pedal for proper travel. If excessive travel is detected, the brake system will be bled and rear brakes adjusted. As an interim measure, freightliner will notify all owners to have their vehicles inspected to assure proper function of the brake system. This will include adjusting and bleeding the brakes. Also, owners will be instructed that on a regular basis they should do several hard brake applications while stopped. This will exercise the self-adjusting system and if they observe a low or spongy brake pedal they will be instructed to take their vehicle in for additional service. Owner notification began march 21, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Freightliner FLN Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1998 Freightliner FLN have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in March 2001 for the foundation components.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical FLN year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1998 Freightliner FLN recalls 8
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
- Vehicle description: certain tractors fail to comply with fmvss no. 121, "Air brake systems." The air lines may not be routed properly to the drive axle service brake relay.
- The risk
- These vehicles are not in compliance with the standard.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect for correct air line routing and reroute if necessary.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy trucks built with air brakes that did not have air gauges installed. This does not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 121, "Air brake systems."
- The risk
- These vehicles are not in compliance with the standard.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a new dual needle air pressure gauge.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The outboard bearing on the steering axle hubs can fail due to water intrusion through a hubcap vent.
- The risk
- This condition can result in a separation of the wheel.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove the hubcap and inspect for water intrusion and corrosion. The hub and bearing assembly will be replaced if there is evidence of corrosion. A non-vented hubcap will be installed.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: trucks with steering linkages converted to stand-up right-drive by fontaine modification company. These vehicles have a steering cross shaft that connects the right side steering column to the left side steering column, with a miter box, and u-joint at each side. The cross shaft, miter box shaft, and u-joint have keyways and the u-joint has a set screw at both connections. The keys can work loose and fall out.
- The risk
- This condition can result in a loss of steering on the right hand side.
- The fix
- Dealers will install nuts and bolts through the universal joint ends and shafts which will create a positive lock between the steering gear boxes.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with caterpillar engines and eaton autoshift transmissions. The engines can stall because of software problems.
- The risk
- INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN OCCUR.
- The fix
- Caterpillar is conducting the owner notification and remedy of this recall. Dealers will update these engines with software changes.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with dual steering. The steering column pinch bolts may be under-torqued or missing.
- The risk
- This condition could result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect for the presence of the required fasteners, install fasteners is missing, and retorque to specifications.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The door hinge fasteners contain a defect which could cause a failure to comply with the loading requirements of fmvss no. 206, "Door locks and door retention components."
- The risk
- In the event of a crash, the door hinge may not perform as required by the standard.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HINGE FASTENERS.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1998 Freightliner FLN yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Freightliner FLN: every year compared
All FLN years1998 Freightliner FLN vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Freightliner FLN | 0 | 8 | F | |
| 1998 Freightliner FL-70 | 19 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 1998 Freightliner Century | 9 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 1998 Freightliner Conventional | 5 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1998 Freightliner FL-60 | 2 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 1998 Freightliner FLD | 2 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 1998 Freightliner Classic | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1998 Freightliner FLC112 | 1 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 1998 Freightliner Century Class | 1 | 0 | A | 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 1998 Freightliner FLN
Does the 1998 Freightliner FLN have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 1998 Freightliner FLN: foundation components (March 2001); service brakes, air (May 2000); switch (May 2000); hub (October 1999) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1998 Freightliner FLN had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1998 Freightliner FLN a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 4 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Freightliner FLN 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.
What should I do if my 1998 Freightliner FLN 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