1997 Freightliner Business Class
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Freightliner › Business Class › 1997
These records cover every 1997 Freightliner Business Class. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
6 recalls name the 1997 Freightliner Business Class. Newest first.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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 freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. the brake pedal push rod that activates the service brakes could fracture.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This could result in a loss of braking control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the brake pedal push rod.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with a bendix anti-lock braking system (ABS). the rear axle ABS modulating valves may be plumbed incorrectly.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
2 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Structure
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…
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 have been identified by freightliner as a possible issue. we are trying to figure out if this IS a freightliner or E1 problem. the issues have been going on since both trucks was 5 years old. several door latch assemblies have been purchased over the years in an attempt to resolve the problem, with no success. *nm
- Parking brake · Service brakes, hydraulic
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
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- 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…
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, freightliner has issued information to all affected owners that alerts owners to the importance of responding to the illuminated ABS warning light.freightliner adopted coated rotors during 2002 (date varies by model). Since neither odi nor freightliner have accurate data to forecast the corrosion resistance of coated rotors, odi plans to conduct a future survey at freightliner (in 18-24 months) to evaluate the durability of the coated rotors.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10141697sb2057 New Surge Tank Design
- 10141696sb2056 Transmission Oil Line Removal and Installation
- 10141675sb2032 Gates PowerGrip Hose Clamps, Replacement
- 10141672sb2028 Engine Coolant Changes
- 10029985Freightliner truck: steer axle maintenance, aac and meritor 6000lb and 8000lb axles: this bulletin IS to provide information on the recommended maintenance procedure to be added to dtna maintenance manuals for all models with these axle ratings. It IS recommended that these procedures be adopted as soon as possible. No model years listed.
Every Freightliner Business Class model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.