The 1999 Freightliner Fld has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 149,166 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION03V1120002003-03-215,716 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
Consequence
SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 2003. 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.
STEERING01V1400072001-09-1775,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN MERITOR AXLES. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.
Consequence
THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2001. 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…
STEERING01V0440022001-02-2116,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY TRW. THE SUSPECT TIE RODS CONTAIN 24-DL MODEL BALL SOCKETS. CERTAIN OF THE TIE ROD BALL-SOCKET BEARINGS HAVE A BELOW-SPECIFICATION CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO…
Consequence
IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BALL SOCKETS AND/OR DRAG LINKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 22, 2001. 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 OR TRW CUSTOMER…
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR00V2320022000-08-0735,405 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.
SUSPENSION00V0810002000-03-1713,545 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH DUAL LEAF SPRING TYPE AIR RIDE SUSPENSIONS AND VEHICLES BUILT WITH SINGLE LEAF SPRING TYPE AIR RIDE SUSPENSIONS. REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS CAN FRACTURE THROUGH THE CENTER BOLT HOLE AFTER VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.
Consequence
IF UNDETECTED, THE REAR END OF THE SPRING COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING A HAZARDOUS ROAD DEBRIS SITUATION.
Remedy
FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SINGLE LEAF SPRINGS, DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL SPRINGS. FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DUAL LEAF SPRINGS, DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKED SPRINGS AND REPLACE IF CRACKED.
SUSPENSION99V2950001999-10-262,976 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE OUTBOARD BEARING ON THE STEERING AXLE HUBS CAN FAIL DUE TO WATER INTRUSION THROUGH A HUBCAP VENT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL.
Remedy
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM99V1810021999-07-27320 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND EATON AUTOSHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. THE ENGINES CAN STALL BECAUSE OF SOFTWARE PROBLEMS.
Consequence
INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN OCCUR.
Remedy
CATERPILLAR IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THIS RECALL. DEALERS WILL UPDATE THESE ENGINES WITH SOFTWARE CHANGES.
SUSPENSION99V1720001999-07-02204 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TUFTRAC SUSPENSIONS. THE REAR SUSPENSION AXLE CLAMPS CAN FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE REAR AXLE TO SHIFT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW UPPER AND LOWER AXLE CLAMPS.
Complaints by component
STEERING
1
Total complaints1
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Vehicle hops into curves, across yellow line. Steering problems occur. Dealer contacted, and attempted to remedy problem. States normal conditions. Problem still exists. Provide further information. *ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Freightliner Fld as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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