2003 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY

2 recalls, 4 complaints - 1 TSBs

04V205000 May 4, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Defect Description
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.
Consequence
IF SHIFT LEVER DETACHMENT OCCURS, THA ABILITY RO ACCELERATE OT MAINTAIN SPEED WILL BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
14,000 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: FREIGHTLINER LLC
03V500000 Dec 4, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Defect Description
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.
Consequence
THIS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED BRAKE CONTROL, LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKE CONTROL, OR THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
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 FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 800-547-0712.
400 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: FREIGHTLINER LLC

Complaint Statistics

4 total complaints 1 fires

Top Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Apr 22, 2025
Incident date: Apr 15, 2025
Started car to leave from work and as I drove out of parking lot, every warning light came flashing on and car would not accelerate over 20mph and kept fluctuating the speed up to 20..luckily not too far from dealer and drove straight there. They say it looks like Throttle Body needs to be replaces... Read more
TIRES:TREAD/BELT Dec 21, 2007
Incident date: Dec 12, 2007
7 MONTH OLD STEER TIRE ON FREIGHTLINER TRUCK. TRAVELING AROUND 65 MPH VIBRATION STARTED AND BEFORE WE COULD FIGURE OUT FROM WHERE OR GET TO A SAFE SECTION OF THE ROAD, ALL THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. ALL THE TREAD AND SEVERAL FAIRLY LARGE PARTS FROM THE TRUCK FLEW OFF. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Dec 22, 2005
Incident date: Jun 19, 2005
2003 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *TS *NM
Fire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL Mar 22, 2004
Incident date: Mar 22, 2004
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE JANUARY 2004 CONSUMER WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *AK *LA

Technical Service Bulletins, 2003 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY

1 manufacturer communications from 1 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

ComponentBulletins
070000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
sb2057 Feb 26, 2018
070000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
sb2057 New Surge Tank Design

NHTSA Safety Investigations, FREIGHTLINER CENTURY

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE08009 Opened: Feb 1, 2008 , Closed: Jul 3, 2008
PE, Closed , Model Year: 2004
POWER 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 A... Read more
EA07002 Opened: Jan 30, 2007 , Closed: Jul 12, 2007
EA, Closed , Model Year: 2006
STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS
AS A RESULT OF THE ODI INVESTIGATION, FREIGHTLINER HAS AGREED TO RECALL (NUMBER 07V-289) ALL OF THE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH STEERING COLUMNS POTENTIALLY MISSING WELDS.THE RECALL REMEDY WILL INVOLVE INSPECTING THE RECALLED VEHICLES FOR MISSING WELDS AND IF FOUND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN.EARLY W... Read more
PE06033 Opened: Aug 30, 2006 , Closed: Jan 30, 2007
PE, Closed , Model Year: 2004
STEERING 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... Read more
PE03005 Opened: Feb 7, 2003 , Closed: Aug 22, 2003
PE, Closed , Model Year: 1998
FRONT BRAKE AIR HOSE LEAKS
CERTAIN 1998-2001 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY AND COLUMBIA VEHICLES EXHIBIT A HIGHER RATE OF FRONT BRAKE AIR HOSE LEAKS THAN EARLIER VINTAGE FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES.THE LEAKS HAVE BEEN FREQUENTLY DISCOVERED AT FMCSA ROADSIDE INSPECTIONS SINCE THESE INSPECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED (PRESSURIZ... Read more
PE02088 Opened: Nov 22, 2002 , Closed: May 1, 2003
PE, Closed , Model Year: 1996
INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY
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 AN... Read more

FREIGHTLINER CENTURY - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the FREIGHTLINER CENTURY across all model years (1995, 2013).

104 Total Recalls
76 Total Complaints
5 Investigations
0 Reported Crashes
2 Reported Fires
0 Reported Deaths

FREIGHTLINER CENTURY - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year Recalls Complaints
2013 1 0 View
2012 2 0 View
2011 9 0 View
2010 11 0 View
2009 12 0 View
2008 9 1 View
2007 9 0 View
2006 8 8 View
2005 2 2 View
2004 3 2 View
2003 (current) 2 4
2002 1 0 View
2001 4 4 View
2000 6 19 View
1999 7 10 View
1998 5 21 View
1997 4 5 View
1996 7 0 View
1995 2 0 View

Other FREIGHTLINER Models

Model Recalls Complaints
BUSINESS CLASS M2 507 62 View
CASCADIA 497 398 View
114SD 349 8 View
SPRINTER 3500 312 31 View
SPRINTER 2500 291 64 View
108SD 212 3 View
SPRINTER 1500 212 0 View
SPRINTER 4500 210 2 View