Freightliner Century Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 38 safety recalls and 53 owner complaints across 19 model years of the Freightliner Century (1995–2013). The most-complained-about year is 2000.
Pick your Freightliner Century model year
What Freightliner Century owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA. The 2000 model year has the most, with 15.
All Freightliner Century recalls (38)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Freightliner Century, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Diesel (engine and engine cooling)
Daimler trucks (dtna) is recalling certain model year 2006-2013 freightliner, sterling, and western star vehicles, equipped with detroit diesel epa07 and epa10, dd13 and dd15/16 engines, manufactured from january 20, 2006, through february 20, 2012. The pump to rail high pressure fuel line support system used on these engines is…
Remedy: Dtna will notify owners, and where necessary, the high pressure fuel line support system will be replaced by dtna authorized service facilities, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 27, 2012. Owners may…
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Rack and pinion (steering)
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 freightliner cascadia, columbia, century, coronado, and classic xl trucks manufactured from november 1, 2004, through june 15, 2010 for the rack and pinion steering system. The lower pinion bearing may corrode and fail. A failed bearing may lead to damage of the spool valve seals.…
Remedy: Daimler trucks will inspect the lower bearing for corrosion. If corrosion is found, the rack and pinion system will be replaced. If no corrosion is found, on the bearing, the bearing will be packed with grease and the…
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Electronic stability control (esc)
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 freightliner business class m2, cascadia, century, columbia, coronado and sterling a-line vehicles built with meritor wabco electronic stability control (esc) system manufactured from september 15, 2005 through september 1, 2011. Under certain road and driving conditions, vehicle…
Remedy: Daimler trucks will notify owners, and dealers will replace the esc module with the appropriate software version as necessary, free of charge. An interim owner notification will be mailed on or about november 21, 2011.…
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Fuel pump (fuel system)
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2009 through 2011 freightliner cascadia, century, columbia, coronado, m2, and western star 4900 heavy trucks manufactured from february 19, 2009, through july 9, 2010, equipped with specific dd13 and dd15 engines assembled with a bosch high pressure fuel pump element which may develop a…
Remedy: Daimler trucks will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of a previous recall (see recall campaign 10v-339). The safety recall began on may 18, 2011. Owners…
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Engine and engine cooling
Daimler trucks (dtna) is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 freightliner, cascadia, century, columbia fld, and m2, sterling 9500, and western star 4900 heavy trucks manufactured from march 20, 2006, through june 30, 2010, equipped with specific mbe4000 epa07 model engines. The intake air grid heater may short circuit and…
Remedy: Dtna will notify owners of the recall during march 2011. Another notification will be issued once the remedy is released. Dtna expects the remedy to be available by december 1, 2011. Repairs will be performed by dtna…
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Labels (equipment)
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2011 freightliner coronado, columbia, fld military, business class m2, cascadia, century, and western star 4900 trucks manufactured from august 9, 2010, through october 27, 2010 for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and…
Remedy: Labels with missing information will be replaced with corrected labels. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before january 15, 2011. Owners may contact daimler…
Model years: 2011
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Engine and engine cooling
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2011 freightliner, fccc, sterling, and western star heavy trucks manufactured from september 5, 2006, through june 30, 2010, equipped with specific mbe900 epa04 and epa07 model engines. The intake air grid heater may short circuit and fail due to excessive internal temperatures.
Remedy: Daimler trucks will notify owners and dealers will repair the buses free of charge. Repairs will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities. The safety recall is expected to begin on or…
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Fuel pump (fuel system)
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2009 through 2011 freightliner cascadia, century, columbia, coronado, m2, and western star 4900 heavy trucks manufactured from february 19, 2009 through july 9, 2010, equipped with specific dd13 and dd15 engines assembled with a bosch high pressure fuel pump element which may develop a…
Remedy: Daimler trucks will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about march 28, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1-800-547-0712.
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Fuel system, other
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 freightliner columbia, cascadia, coronado, century, m2, sterling 9500, and western star 4900 vehicles equipped with dd 13 and dd15/dd16 engines and manufactured from january 1, 2007 through april 5, 2010. Should the fuel filter become restricted, the low pressure fuel…
Remedy: The low pressure fuel flange will be replaced with a more robust component. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 17, 2010. Owners may contact daimler trucks at…
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Engine and engine cooling
Daimler trucks is recalling model year 2007-2010 freightliner, sterling and western star vehicles equipped with detroit diesel dd15 epa07 engines which were manufactured with grid heaters. Increased internal grid heater resistance caused by improperly tightened screws may melt the solder on the grid heater circuit board leading to a…
Remedy: The engine control logic will be reprogrammed free of charge by detroit diesel authorized repair facilities and direct warranty customers to provide cold weather starting without the need of a grid heater. The safety…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2010 heavy trucks manufactured between january 17, 2006 and march 31, 2009, equipped with epa07 model mbe4000 engines built with plastic low pressure fuel lines. The plastic lines may experience leaks due to fatigue cracks caused by stress and vibration combined with high…
Remedy: Daimler trucks will notify owners and the remedy will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities and direct warranty customers. The safety recall began on may 7, 2010. Owners may contact…
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Fuel pump (fuel system)
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2009 heavy trucks manufactured between may 5, 2008 and january 7, 2009, equipped dd15 engines and with bosch high pressure fuel pumps. The fasteners on these fuel pumps could be under-torqued allowing the "o" ring between the pump housing and the barrel to protrude and leak.
Remedy: Daimler trucks will notify owners and the remedy will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities and direct warranty customers. The safety recall began on december 22, 2009. Owners may…
Model years: 2009
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Rack and pinion (steering)
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2005 through 2010 heavy duty trucks manufactured from october 29, 2005 through july 3, 2009. Under certain condition, the left hand inner tie rod end may loosen over time and if not corrected, potentially separate from the steering rack.
Remedy: Daimler trucks will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall began on february 5, 2010. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1-800-547-0712.
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Hub (suspension)
On certain trucks built with front axles assembled by arvinmeritor, the front spindle nut may be over-tightened causing preload on the front wheel bearings which could lead to premature bearing wear.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front hub installation for correct bearing adjustment. If the bearing adjustment is incorrect, the front wheel bearings will be replaced. The recall began on june 28, 2007. Owners may contact…
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Axle assembly (power train)
On certain trucks and motor home chassis, the top flange of the front axle i-beam may fatigue and fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front axle assembly. The recall began on march 15, 2006, for phase i. Phase 2 will begin during august 2006. This recall is being conducted in two phases. Phase i will replace the…
Model years: 2006
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Linkages (steering)
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.
Remedy: 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.
Model years: 2004
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Driveline (power train)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suspect male shaft yokes. The recall began on april 4, 2005. Owners should contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Model years: 2004
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Manual transmission (power train)
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.
Remedy: 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.
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Service brakes, air
On certain trucks equipped with air brakes, the plastic push-to-connect air line fitting cartridge could be improperly welded into the nylon junction block housing allowing an air line to become disconnected.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new cab air manifold. Owner notification is expected to begin on january 21, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Model years: 2003
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Hub (suspension)
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.
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…
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Service brakes, air
On certain trucks equipped with manifold dash valves with push to connect fittings used to control the park brake function on trucks and trailers with air brakes, the park knob can pop out unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion. This will exhaust the air from the park brake system on the trailer and apply the parking brakes.
Remedy: Haldex will notify its customers to make arrangements to have the valve inspected and, if necessary, replaced free of charge. Owner notification is expected to begin during january 2003. Owners who take their vehicles…
Model years: 2002
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Electrical system: wiring
On certain trucks, a capacitor in the power line control (plc) filter could overheat and/or ignite when subjected to reverse polarity electrical spikes.
Remedy: Dealers will disconnect and secure the plc filter ground wire. Owner notification began september 20, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Model years: 2001
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Check valve (service brakes)
On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with meritor wabco pneumatic anitlock brake system (ABS) valve packages, the assembly bolts on these valve packages were not tightened correctly.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the fasteners to the proper specification. Owner notification began april 4, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Model years: 2001
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
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.
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…
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Service brakes, air: controls, pedals and linkages
Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with certain haldex brake system two and four port relay valves. The valve may stick open when a high-pressure application is released.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these valves. Owner notification began october 17, 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…
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
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 premature wear of the socket.
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…
Model years: 1999
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Antilock (service brakes)
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…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ABS ECU.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with eaton autoshift gen ii transmission assemblies. Due to a software problem in the transmission assemblies, the transmission will select the wrong gear.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the autoshift transmissions.
Model years: 2000
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Air suspension system (suspension)
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.
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.
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The tie rod ends can fracture due to low stress, high cycle, reversed bending fatigue resulting from a system resonance.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rod ends and tube assembly.
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Hub (suspension)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The outboard bearing on the steering axle hubs can fail due to water intrusion through a hubcap vent.
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.
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Linkages (visibility)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The windshield wiper connecting linkage sockets can wear out prematurely due to insufficient greasing during assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting linkages with new links that are properly lubricated.
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Suspension: front
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the u-joints with the current design u-joints.
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Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering shaft with a new design that is installed in an inverted orientation so no water can enter the splines.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Due to undersized rivets and oversized holes, the b-pillar anchorage will not meet the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
Remedy: Dealers will make the necessary repairs to the seat belt assembly anchorages.
Model years: 1996
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Suspension: rear
Vehicle description: all vehicles equipped with eaton drive axles and axilok spindle nuts. The drive axle housings consist of a plate steel center section and two forged spindles, one of which is welded to each end of the center section. Each spindle contains a keyway slot in which the locking tab for the wheel bearing nut locking…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the drive axle housing nuts with a conventional wheel nut hardware system.
Model years: 1996
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Defroster/defogger/hvac system (visibility)
An electrical short can occur in the auxilliary heater/airconditioning blower if exposed to water.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the relay with one that resists shorting if contacted by water and does not support combustion even if shorted.
Model years: 1996
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Vehicle speed control
These vehicles are equipped with a detroit diesel optimized idle system. If the ignition is turned on and the fuse for the electronic control module (ECM) power feed line is removed or burned out, the safety features designed to prevent injury to persons working in the vicinity of the engine will be bypassed, and unintentional cranking…
Remedy: Detroit diesel distributors will rewire the vehicles using a revised ECM which will eliminate unintentional cranking.
Model years: 1995, 1996
Other Freightliner models
- Cascadia253 complaints
- Freightliner135 complaints
- Columbia96 complaints
- Conventional76 complaints
- Business Class M254 complaints
- Sprinter 250049 complaints
- FL-7037 complaints
- FS-6533 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.