Freightliner FL-70 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints across the 2 model years of the Freightliner FL-70 (1998–1999) that have at least 5 complaints. 1998 has the most, with 19. Across all years, the part named most often is engine cooling (17 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All FL-70 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine cooling17 61%
- Fuel system4 14%
- Vehicle speed control2 7.1%
- Transmission and drivetrain2 7.1%
- Tires1 3.6%
- Steering1 3.6%
- Brakes1 3.6%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1999: “This is a very serious matter of safety concerning a large truck and needs to be addressed. The number of complaints to spicer and Freightliner are growing daily as witnessed on the expeditor forum website. Please look into this matter of serious consequense of losing control while driving these vehicles. No safety defect (s) mentioned in summary.”
NHTSA complaint #716372, filed 1999-121998: “Truck stalled intermittently and without warning at any speed, truck within a 2-year period has been back to factory, where engines were put in 161 times. Fuel pump was replaced as being the problem. The remedy is not correcting the repeating problem.”
NHTSA complaint #897294, filed 2001-10Other Freightliner models
245 complaintsFreightliner Freightliner
112 complaintsFreightliner Columbia
86 complaintsFreightliner Conventional
58 complaintsFreightliner Century
36 complaintsFreightliner Business Class M2
31 complaintsFreightliner FS-65
29 complaintsFreightliner FLD120
18 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology