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1997 Freightliner Business Class Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Freightliner Business Class has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 149,642 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the parking brake. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 03V246000 2003-07-10 62 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES ON THE C8.3G AND L10G ENGINES, THE ECM DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DETECT A THROTTLE FAIL-SAFE ENGINE SHUTDOWN COMMAND. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNANTICIPATED, UNCOMMANDED OPEN THROTTLE CONDITION WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence

IF THIS EVENT OCCURS, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WILL NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE ENGINE SPEED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE ECM. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1-503-745-5219.

PARKING BRAKE 02V108001 2002-04-10 548 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR BRAND 12" X 4" DCM DRUM PARKING BRAKE, THE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FLANGE YOKE ARE TOO LARGE AND CAN INTERFERE WITH THE PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY DISENGAGE.

Consequence

IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ATTACHING BOLTS WITH THE CORRECT SIZE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 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…

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 00V357000 2000-11-03 105,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD THAT ACTIVATES THE SERVICE BRAKES COULD FRACTURE.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 00V232002 2000-08-07 35,405 affected
Defect

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…

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 99V065000 1999-03-29 142 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A BENDIX ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE REAR AXLE ABS MODULATING VALVES MAY BE PLUMBED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence

THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR AXLE SERVICE BRAKES, WHEN IN THE ABS MODE, TO NOT MODULATE AS INTENDED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE ABS MODULATING VALVE SUPPLY AND OUTLET PORT FOR CORRECT PLUMBING AND RE-PLUMB IF NECESSARY.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 98V052000 1998-03-04 8,485 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCK-TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH 26" 8-BLADE METAL ENGINE COOLING FANS. THE FAN BLADES CAN FATIGUE CRACK AND EVENTUALLY SEPARATE FROM THE FAN.

Consequence

IF THE FAN BLADE BREAKS WHILE A PERSON WAS WORKING IN THE ENGINE, PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE FANS WITH FANS WHICH ARE MORE DURABLE.

Complaints by component

PARKING BRAKE
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
STRUCTURE
1
Total complaints3

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Rear passenger doors of freightliner "business class" truck come unlatched and open up during operation down the road. There are also incidents of the trucks parking at certain angles where the doors will not open up at alkl. This happens on both fl80 chassied fire trucks. Cracks in the roof…”

STRUCTURE · reported 2002-01-01

“Loss of hydraulic brake pads, locked up calipers, actual loss of wheel calipers when backing up, inconsistant brake wear, equalizer warning switch n/a for master cylinder, date listed is first occurance, almost went over steep 40 foot dropoff due to switch n/a in mountains on slick road. *nlm”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 1988-12-18

“Loss of hydraulic brake pads, locked up calipers, actual loss of wheel calipers when backing up, inconsistant brake wear, equalizer warning switch n/a for master cylinder, date listed is first occurance, almost went over steep 40 foot dropoff due to switch n/a in mountains on slick road. *nlm”

PARKING BRAKE · reported 1988-12-18

Defect investigations

Investigation EA02036 Opened 2002-12-11 · closed 2004-01-26

ABS CORROSION EXTENDS STOPPING DIST

THE TONE RING TOOTH PROFILE OF AN UNCOATED HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKE DEGRADES AFTER EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENTS.WHEN THE TONE RING TOOTH PROFILE HAS DEGRADED IN FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES RELIABLY TO WARN THE OPERATOR TO HAVE THE ABS SYSTEM SERVICED.IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INQUIRY,…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Freightliner Business Class as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.