The 2004 Freightliner Century has 3 safety recalls and 2 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is unknown or other (1 complaint).
Problem: ON CERTAIN TRUCK AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH I-SHAFTS SUPPLIED BY ZF HEAVY DUTY STEERING, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FAILURE OF THE FORK/SHAFT CONNECTION.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE COULD SUFFER A LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ATTACH A TENSION COLLAR TO THE STEERING SHAFT TO SECURE THE CONNECTION TO THE YOKE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Power train › Driveline
NHTSA recall 04V590000 · Dec 15, 2004 · 1,095 vehicles
Problem: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE INTERAXLE DRIVELINE YOKES. THE BOLT HOLES LOCATED ON THE EARWORK OF THE MALE SHAFT YOKES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN OVERSIZED MINOR THREAD DIAMETER.
Risk: THIS CONDITION ALLOWS THE BOLTS USED IN THE HOLES TO BECOME DETACHED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DRIVELINE SEPARATION. DRIVELINE SEPARATION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT MALE SHAFT YOKES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 4, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Power train › Manual transmission
NHTSA recall 04V205000 · May 4, 2004 · 14,000 vehicles
Problem: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE TAPERED JOINT THAT ATTACHES THE SHIFTER TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY BECOME LOOSE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR.
Risk: IF SHIFT LEVER DETACHMENT OCCURS, THA ABILITY RO ACCELERATE OT MAINTAIN SPEED WILL BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RE-SECURE THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE TRANSMISSION USING THREADLOCK AND RE-TORQUING THE FASTENING BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
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
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Exhaust system
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Sep 17, 2006 · 300,572 milesEngine and engine cooling › Exhaust system FUMES COMING INTO CAB, MAKING ME SICK, HEADACHE, BURNING EYES, DISORIENTED. TIRED, FATIGUE, LAST EIGHT DAYS THIS STARTED. *JB
Dec 21, 2005Unknown or other MY NAME IS [XXX]AND I AM A DRIVER FOR ARNOLD TRANSPORTATION. ON 12/21/2005, AT APPROX. 1500 HRS, I ATTEMPTED TO QUIT ARNOLDS TRUCKING BECAUSE THE COMPANY CONSTANTLY PUT ME IN POSITIONS WHEREAS I HAVE TO RUN ILLEGALLY TO MAKE SOME OF MY DELIVERIES ON TIME. WHEN I COMPLIANT ABOUT IT, I AM HARASSED, REQUIRED TO HAVE MY LOG BOOK INSPECTED AND BEEPED DURING MY 10 HOUR BREAK. I WAS ALSO TOLD TO LOG LOADING TIME AS OFF DUTY SO THAT IT DOESN'T AFFECT MY 7 DAY HOS. WHEN I REFUSED TO RUN OUTSIDE OF DOT REGULATIONS AND TRIED TO QUIT, I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TWO OPTIONS AND THOSE OPTIONS WERE "WORK OR BE TERMINATED", I WAS NEVER TOLD WHAT I WOULD BE TERMINATED FOR, NOR DID I ASK. WHEN I TRIED TO QUIT, I…
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
PE08009 · opened Feb 1, 2008 · closed Jul 3, 2008POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES ODI'S INVESTIGATION OF THE SUBJECT POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FOUND THAT, WITH OVER FIVE YEARS OF OPERATIONAL EXPOSURE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO PUMP FAILURES THAT RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE ROAD OR ANY SUDDEN DROP OFF IN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST AT ANY TIME.THERE ARE NO CRASHES OR INJURIES.THESE REDUCTION IN ASSIST EVENTS HAVE ONLY OCCURRED DURING BACKING OR PARKING MANEUVERS.FREIGHTLINER AND TRW APPEAR TO HAVE ACTED RESPONSIBLY IN PROVIDING INFORMATION TO CUSTOMERS AND DEALERS REGARDING SAFE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR POWER STEERING PUMPS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN SPEED OF STEER.FREIGHTLINER'S FIELD SERVICE BULLETIN, FSB 46-38, IS A DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING IF THE TRW POWER STEERING PUMP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REDUCED POWER ASSIST AND DESCRIBES CORRECTIVE ACTIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN ONCE THE DETERMINATION…
PE06033 · opened Aug 30, 2006 · closed Jan 30, 2007STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS EARLY WARNING AGGREGATE DATA SUBMITTED TO NHTSA BY FREIGHTLINER SUGGESTS THAT A STEERING (EWR CODE 01) PROBLEM EXISTS FOR THE 2004 AND 2005 CENTURY AND COLUMBIA CLASS VEHICLES.THE COUNT OF FIELD REPORTS SUBMITTED FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2006 WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE OF THE PREVIOUS 6 QUARTERS FOR THE AGGREGATE STEERING DATA.FURTHER REVIEW OF THE EWR DATA FOUNDFIELD REPORTS THAT DESCRIBED STEERING COLUMN FAILURES AS A RESULT OF WELDS CRACKING OR BREAKING.INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM FREIGHTLINER DETAILS A NUMBER OF STEERING COLUMNFAILURES ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE FAILURES WERE THE RESULT OF MISSING AND CRACKED WELDS ON THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE IF THE WELD FAILURES IN THE STEERING COLUMN CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER OR STARTLES THE DRIVER PRESENTING A SAFETY RISK.