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1996 Freightliner Freightliner Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Moderate

7 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.43 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Moderate96V124002

Suspension

VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO VEHICLE TILT AND POSSIBLE ROLLOVER IN THE EVENT THAT BOTH EQUALIZING BEAMS, ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, EXPERIENCE A SIMULTANEOUS SHAFT FAILURE.

Remedy & full details

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS BEING CONDUCTED BY NEWAY ANCHORLOK. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL SUSPENSION SUSPENSION BEAMS WITH SUSPENSION BEAMS CONTAINING APPROPRIATE SHAFTS.

THE EQUALIZING BEAM SHAFT OF THE TANDEM AXLE SUSPENSION WERE MANUFACTURED FROM AS-ROLLED SAE4140 STEEL RATHER THAN THE SPECIFIED ANNEALED SAE4140. THESE SHAFTS CAN FRACTURE INSIDE THE BEAM AT THE TOE OF THE WELD.

Moderate96V167000

Steering:Column

IF THESE FASTENERS BECOME LOOSE AND ALL FALL OUT, THE STEERING COLUMN DRIVELINE WILL DISCONNECT FROM THE TILT/TELESCOPING MECHANISM AND THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE WILL BE LOST.

Remedy & full details

THE VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED FOR LOOSE FASTENERS AND RETORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS IF THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSE.

THE FOUR FASTENERS THAT RETAIN THE OUTPUT SHAFT BEARING TO THE STEERING COLUMN TILT/TELESCOPING MECHANISM WAS NOT TORQUED PROPERLY.

Complaint volume

7 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
1Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 7 complaints. Severity Index 0.43.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Electrical System · Alter…1 · 14%Suspension · Rear · Shock…1 · 14%Power Train · Axle Assemb…1 · 14%Electrical System · Ignit…1 · 14%Structure · Body · Door1 · 14%Service Brakes, Air1 · 14%Engine And Engine Cooling…1 · 14%
  1. Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator — 1 reports
  2. Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber — 1 reports
  3. Power Train:Axle Assembly — 1 reports
  4. Electrical System:Ignition:Module — 1 reports
  5. Structure:Body:Door — 1 reports
  6. Service Brakes, Air — 1 reports
  7. Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (3) · 1996 · 1997 (2) · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 (1) · 2001 (1) · 2002 (1) · 2003 (1) · 2004 (1)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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