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1997 Freightliner FLD
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1997 Freightliner FLD, covering vehicle speed control and service brakes, air, and 1 consumer complaint received since 2000.
The component named most often is electrical system: 1,000 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 81.5 per 1,000 across all 1997 model-year vehicles and against 181.8 per 1,000 for the Freightliner FLD line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 0.4 complaints per model year across the 24 Freightliner FLD model years on this register; 0 complaints reported a crash and 1 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2000 (1); the most recent in the file is dated 19 Jul 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 24 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: Certain heavy duty trucks converted from sleepercabs to day cabs and equipped with a detroit diesel optimized idle system. The idle system was not completely disabled in the cab conversion process.
Consequence: This can result in unintentional engine starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will completely disable the optimized idle system. Owner notification began april 3, 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.
Filed by FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION (manufacturer campaign FL-391).
Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks and school bus chassis built with bendix air ABS with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ECU), there have been reports of unwanted ABS activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed ABS wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.
Consequence: This condition could cause the ABS ECU to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ABS ECU.
Filed by FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION (manufacturer campaign FL-266).
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 1997 Freightliner FLD (black) against all 1997 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1997 | FLD line | All 1997 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1,000 | 181.8 | 81.5 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 1,000 | 181.8 | 81.5 |
1 unique complaints, 1 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 FLD model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 2,336 |
| 1987 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 2,336 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 | 5,312 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 | 5,312 |
| 1990 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 2,976 |
| 1991 | 3 | 0 | 94,636 |
| 1992 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 77,000 |
| 1993 | 4 | 0 | 115,777 |
| 1994 | 5 | 0 | 109,488 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 | 740 |
| 1996 | 5 | 1 | 18,296 |
| 1997 | 2 | 1 | 35,502 |
| 1998 | 5 | 2 | 44,514 |
| 1999 | 8 | 1 | 149,166 |
| 2000 | 8 | 1 | 136,431 |
| 2001 | 4 | 1 | 45,292 |
| 2004 | 6 | 1 | 139,022 |
| 2005 | 3 | 1 | 160,862 |
| 2006 | 7 | 0 | 274,295 |
| 2007 | 10 | 0 | 289,580 |
| 2008 | 10 | 1 | 222,573 |
| 2009 | 7 | 0 | 108,014 |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | 108,755 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | 7,816 |
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 FLD model years · Freightliner: 77 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1997 Freightliner FLD have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 02V077000, was reported to NHTSA on 20 Mar 2002 and concerns vehicle speed control. Across all model years the Freightliner FLD line has 47 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1997 Freightliner FLD?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 1997 Freightliner FLD complain about most?
Electrical System: 1 of 1 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 24 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 24 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.