Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2005 Freightliner Century
The 2005 Freightliner Century has a notable steering concern due to potential rack and pinion issues, as highlighted by recalls. Although generally robust, buyers should thoroughly inspect the steering system. Minimal owner complaints aside from steering suggest other systems hold up relatively well.
Known issues to inspect
Corroded pinion bearing
How to check: Inspect lower pinion bearing for rust and wear.
Loose inner tie rod
How to check: Check if left inner tie rod feels loose.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Listen for unusual steering noises.
Red flag: Grinding or whining sounds
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Observe steering wheel vibrations.
Red flag: Excessive vibrations
- 03
Low-speed driving
What to check: Feel for steering responsiveness.
Red flag: Delayed or heavy response
- 04
Turning corners
What to check: Monitor for excessive play in steering.
Red flag: Steering wheel play
- 05
Highway driving
What to check: Check steering stability and alignment.
Red flag: Pulls to one side
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the steering rack been replaced?
- Any history of steering issues?
- How often were the tires replaced?
- Has the recall work been done?
- What repairs have been recently made?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Recall repair receipts
- Maintenance records
- Tire replacement receipts
- Vehicle history report
Generated by gpt-4o on 8/24/2026. Grounded in the NHTSA recall corpus and owner-complaint patterns for the 2005 Freightliner Century.