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1996 Freightliner FL-70
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 Freightliner FL-70, covering power train and suspension, and 2 consumer complaints received since 2000.
The component named most often is vehicle speed control: 1,000 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 41.9 per 1,000 across all 1996 model-year vehicles and against 320 per 1,000 for the Freightliner FL-70 line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 3.7 complaints per model year across the 10 Freightliner FL-70 model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2000 (2); the most recent in the file is dated 14 Dec 2000.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
- 97V052000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFTReported 8 Apr 1997 · 5,997 units
Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: vans and trucks equipped with an optional automatic transmission shift lever that includes a park brake position. The transmission shifter/park brake lever can bind before fully engaging in the park brake position causing a false park condition.
Consequence: The vehicle can move after being placed in park increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a spacer plate in the shifter and inspect for the presence of an "e" clip that detains the detent pin.
Filed by FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION.
Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: all vehicles equipped with eaton drive axles and axilok spindle nuts. The drive axle housings consist of a plate steel center section and two forged spindles, one of which is welded to each end of the center section. Each spindle contains a keyway slot in which the locking tab for the wheel bearing nut locking mechanism is inserted. The length of the keyway slot may not be long enough to accommodate the tab causing the tab to be deformed or damaged during installation.
Consequence: This locking tab prevents the wheel bearing nut from loosening during vehicle operation. If this tab is deformed, the nut can loosen allowing the wheel to separate from the axle increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the drive axle housing nuts with a conventional wheel nut hardware system.
Filed by FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1996 Freightliner FL-70 (black) against all 1996 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1996 | FL-70 line | All 1996 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1,000 | 320 | 41.9 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1996 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 1,000 | 320 | 41.9 |
2 unique complaints, 4 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Freightliner FL-70 model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7 | 0 | 88,604 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 | 88,191 |
| 1993 | 4 | 2 | 85,806 |
| 1994 | 3 | 2 | 85,750 |
| 1995 | 3 | 1 | 14,747 |
| 1996 | 2 | 2 | 7,407 |
| 1997 | 2 | 2 | 7,932 |
| 1998 NHTSA | 1 | 19 | 1,935 |
| 1999 NHTSA | 1 | 5 | 185 |
| 2000 NHTSA | 0 | 4 | — |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Freightliner FL-70 model years · Freightliner: 77 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1996 Freightliner FL-70 have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 97V052000, was reported to NHTSA on 8 Apr 1997 and concerns power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift. Across all model years the Freightliner FL-70 line has 12 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1996 Freightliner FL-70?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 1996 Freightliner FL-70 complain about most?
Vehicle Speed Control: 4 of 4 component mentions (1,000 per 1,000). Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.