Model year record

1997 Freightliner Century recalls & problems

The 1997 Freightliner Century has 4 safety recalls and 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is equipment (2 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints4filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, airAug 7, 2000

Antilock

Recall 00V23200235,405 vehicles

Problem: 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 SENSOR SIGNAL.
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

VisibilityDec 21, 1998

Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages

Recall 98V3260006,720 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONNECTING LINKAGE SOCKETS CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT GREASING DURING ASSEMBLY.
Risk: THIS CAN LEAD TO A SEPARATION OF THE LINKAGE AND LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTING LINKAGES WITH NEW LINKS THAT ARE PROPERLY LUBRICATED.

SuspensionApr 21, 1998

Front

Recall 98V08500022,186 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR INTERAXLE DRIVELINE U-JOINTS. DEFLECTOR RINGS, A PART OF THE SYSTEM TO SEAL THE U-JOINTS FROM CONTAMINATES, ARE LOOSE. THIS ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE U-JOINT BEARING AREA RESULT IN DILUTION OF THE LUBRICANT, OXIDATION OF THE BEARING AND SEAL SURFACES, AND LOSS OF LUBRICANT.
Risk: IF THIS PROBLEM GOES UNDETECTED, THE INTERAXLE DRIVELINE CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE U-JOINTS WITH THE CURRENT DESIGN U-JOINTS.

SteeringJul 16, 1997

Steering wheel/handle bar

Recall 97V11200011,366 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. LEAKS THROUGH THE FIREWALL OR STEERING SHAFT BOOTS ALLOWS WATER TO RUN DOWN THE STEERING SHAFT. THE STEERING SHAFT SLIP SPLINE CORRODES CAUSING IT TO SEIZE.
Risk: INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT WITH A NEW DESIGN THAT IS INSTALLED IN AN INVERTED ORIENTATION SO NO WATER CAN ENTER THE SPLINES.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Equipment	2	0	—
TiresSidewall	1	1	—
SuspensionRear › Springs › Leaf spring assembly	1	0	—
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 64 MPH, THE EXHAUST FUME CAME INTO THE CAB THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM INTAKE. THERE WAS A SMELL OF FUME PRESENT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED EITHER WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN IN AN IDLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CLUMPS AND MANIFOLD HOSE WERE DEFECTIVE. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED.
Sep 21, 2006 · 350,000 miles
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf spring assembly
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR LEFT LEAF SEPARATED FROM WHEEL FRAME, RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO TRUCK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK
Aug 8, 2002
Equipment
CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIR GUAGES BEING INACCURATE, THEY WILL NOT DROP TO ZERO WHEN AIR TANKS ARE DRAINED THEY STILL SHOW 15-20 LBS OF AIR PRESSURE THEY ARE OFF 10-20% WHEN AIR TANKS ARE FULL, CHP INSPECTIONS AT TERMINAL HAVE FOUND ALL AIR GUAGES INCLUDING THE GUAGE THAT WAS REPLACED TO BE INACCURATE.*JB
Sep 28, 2001
Tires › Sidewall1 injury
TIRE BLEW OUT ON SIDEWALL RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT.(BRIDGESTONE 295/75R/225).
Jul 29, 1998

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLYClosedLed to recall 03E019000
FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD TO FREIGHTLINER IN THE AFTERMARKET. ODI NOTES THAT THERE ARE TWOINTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES PER FRONT AXLE.FREIGHTLINER IDENTIFIED VEHICLES INCLUDINGFREIGHTLINER,STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR BRAND NAME AS BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
PE02088 · opened Nov 22, 2002 · closed May 1, 2003