NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Freightliner Century Class Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Freightliner Century Class has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 5 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Freightliner dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Freightliner Century Class. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2005 Freightliner Century Class owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Freightliner Century Class, describing incidents dated June 11, 2006 to November 21, 2006.

Most-cited components

Engine 4 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint

Of the 5 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire; across all 5 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10174327 · Filed November 21, 2006
EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CAB. GETTING SICK FOR ABOUT A MONTH. SINUS INFECTION AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. NO CO TEST PERFORMED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 2 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THE METER IS READING OVER 50 PPM TO 100 PPM IF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE IS CLEAR. CURRENTLY THE INTAKE IS PLUGGED WITH PLASTIC BAGS…
ODI #10174057 · Filed November 22, 2006
THE AIR FORCE LOST A SEMI TRUCK-TRACTOR IN A VEHICLE FIRE ON 6/30/2006. THE VEHICLE, A 2005 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CLASS TRACTOR, WAS LEASED FROM GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. A SEMI-TRAILER OWNED BY THE AIR FORCE WAS ALSO DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE DEPARTED TRAVIS AFB, CA AROUND 1115L ON 6/30/2006…
ODI #10173951 · Filed November 21, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FOUL ODOR FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT BECAME PHYSICALLY ILL DUE TO THE EXHAUST FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO…

Read all 5 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2005 Freightliner Century Class in 5 investigations. Audit Queries and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations: they look at whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules, not at a possible vehicle defect. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Audit Query AQ18-002: Daimler Trucks North America Recalls
Closed July 11, 2024
Preliminary Evaluation PE09-040: RACK AND PINION FAILURE
Closed November 19, 2009
- Recall 09V-357
Preliminary Evaluation PE08-009: POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES
Closed July 3, 2008
Engineering Analysis EA07-002: STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS
Closed July 12, 2007
- Recall 07V-289
Preliminary Evaluation PE06-033: STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS
Closed January 30, 2007

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable

NHTSA #17V810000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported December 15, 2017 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 24,860 vehicles

Repair completion: 0.92% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-759 · Owners notified April 11, 2018 · Vehicles built July 11, 2001 – August 19, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado trucks and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900 and 6900 trucks. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Safety consequence

In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, or contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-759.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE/CATERPILLAR

NHTSA #09V366000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported September 23, 2009 · DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA

Potentially affected: 25,362 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-558 · Owners notified May 5, 2009 · Vehicles built April 1, 2003 – June 30, 2009 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.

Safety consequence

AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE CATERPILLAR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986 OR DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

DAIMLER TRUCKS RECALL NO. FL-558. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES

NHTSA #08V113000 · Fuel System, Diesel · NHTSA notice

Reported March 11, 2008 · DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA

Potentially affected: 62,000 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-526 · Owners notified July 9, 2008 · Vehicles built April 1, 2004 – April 30, 2007 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 62,000 MY 2005-2007 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS, CENTURY CLASS, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, FLD, CLASSIC, STERLING A-LINE, L-LINE, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS. A FRACTURED FUEL LINE COULD LEAK DIESEL FUEL.

Safety consequence

IF A LEAK CONTINUES UNDETECTED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, FUEL MAY IGNITE AT A HOT ENGINE SURFACE AND/OR FUEL MAY BE SPILLED ON THE ROAD SURFACE.

Manufacturer remedy

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND TRANSFER TUBES WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

DAIMLER TRUCK RECALL NO. FL-526.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

IMPROPER INSTALLATION POWER DISTRIBUTION MODEL

NHTSA #06V190000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported June 5, 2006 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 61,000 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-476 · Owners notified December 18, 2006 · Vehicles built September 7, 2004 – October 17, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE CAB POWER DISTRIBUTION MODEL (PDM) MAY BE MISSING OR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.

Safety consequence

IF THE PROTECTIVE COVER IS MISSING OR NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY, ANY WATER INTRUSION FROM AN OPEN WINDOW OR WINDSHIELD LEAK MAY SEEP THROUGH THE UPPER DASH COVER SEAM AND DRIP ONTO THE PDM. WATER ON THE PDM CIRCUITS MAY CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A FIRE THAT COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-476.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2005 Freightliner Century Class. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Freightliner Century Class.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10174327

Incident: November 15, 2006 · Filed: November 21, 2006

EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CAB. GETTING SICK FOR ABOUT A MONTH. SINUS INFECTION AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. NO CO TEST PERFORMED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 2 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THE METER IS READING OVER 50 PPM TO 100 PPM IF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE IS CLEAR. CURRENTLY THE INTAKE IS PLUGGED WITH PLASTIC BAGS TO PREVENT THE CO FROM ENTERING THE CAB. WITH THE BAGS IN PLACE THE READING IS 10 PPM. HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2.5 YEARS. THE PROBLEM SEEMD TO START AROUND 200,000 MILES. I WAS TIRED ALL THE TIME.

Electrical System

ODI #10174057

Fire

Incident: June 30, 2006 · Filed: November 22, 2006

THE AIR FORCE LOST A SEMI TRUCK-TRACTOR IN A VEHICLE FIRE ON 6/30/2006. THE VEHICLE, A 2005 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CLASS TRACTOR, WAS LEASED FROM GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. A SEMI-TRAILER OWNED BY THE AIR FORCE WAS ALSO DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE DEPARTED TRAVIS AFB, CA AROUND 1115L ON 6/30/2006. AFTER THE OPERATOR SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR. AS HE PULLED OFF ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. OPENING THE HOOD, HE SAW FIRE IN THE AIR CLEANER. HE RETRIEVED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES BUT THE FIRE REGAINED INTENSITY AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE HIGHWAY PATROL/FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 1156L AND 1204L RESPECTIVELY. SAFETY INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FIRE IGNITED WHEN THE BATTERY CABLE ARCED ON THE RIGHT FRONT LEAF SPRING DUE TO LOOSE WIRE HANGERS. TWO BOLTS ON THE TRANSMISSION HOLD THE BRACKETS THAT SUPPORT THE MAIN BATTERY CABLE/ALTERNATOR CABLE. THE LOOSE BOLTS ALLOWED THE MAIN BATTERY CABLE/ALTERNATOR CABLE TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE TWO INCH LONG TRANSMISSION/HANGER BOLT ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS BACKED OUT 1/2 INCH AND THE BOLT ON THE RIGHT WAS BACKED OUT 1/4 INCH. A ONE-TIME INSPECTION (OTI) OF ALL SIMILAR TRUCKS DISCOVERED FOUR ADDITIONAL TRACTORS WITH LOOSE BATTERY CABLES/CLAMPS. ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS AT THE BELL-HOUSING AND HOW THE BRACKET WHERE THE BATTERY CABLES ATTACH IS SECURED TO THE TRANSMISSION. A MINOR REPAIR IS NEEDED TO FIX THE DEFECT. BECAUSE THE BELL-HOUSING BOLT HOLES ARE COUNTERSUNK AND CIRCULAR, THE BRACKET WHICH SECURES THE BATTERY CABLES CANNOT BE MOUNTED FLUSH WITH THE BELL-HOUSING. THIS CAUSES THE BELL-HOUSING BOLT TO BACK OUT AND LET THE BRACKET HANG LOOSE. THE SOLUTION: ADD ANOTHER FLAT WASHER BEHIND THE BRACKET TO ALLOW IT TO SIT FLUSH, AND ADD A LOCK WASHER TO THE FRONT OF THE BRACKET TO PREVENT IT FROM LOOSENING. THE FIX TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES PER VEHICLE. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10173951

1 injury

Incident: November 21, 2006 · Filed: November 21, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FOUL ODOR FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT BECAME PHYSICALLY ILL DUE TO THE EXHAUST FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10173814

Incident: November 2, 2006 · Filed: November 19, 2006

NOV,2 OF 2006, TOOK THE TRUCK INTO FREIGHTLINER IN REDDING,CA. COMPLAINED OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE CAB AGAIN, THEY SAID THAT THEY FIXED IT, ONCE AGAIN FUMES COMMING IN AFTER I LEFT THERE SHOP. BECAME ILL AN STAYED AT HOME, LUNG PROBLEMS, HEADAKES, BURNING EYES. WENT TO DOCTORS. HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO COMPANY ATTENTION, THEY IGNORED ME. NOW HAVE TO TAKE TRUCK INTO SHOP AGAIN THIS WILL 3 TIMES. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER DRIVERS WITHIN THE COMPANY HAVING SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THERES NO FIX TO THIS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AN UNSAFE. WHY ARE THE FUMES COMMING THROUGH THE VENTS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10159544

Incident: June 11, 2006 · Filed: June 11, 2006

AFTER ABOUT 30 MIN COULD SMELL FUMES COMING INTO TRUCK THROUGH AIR CONDITION VENT. WHEN I GET OF TRUCK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, STARTING TO FEEL BETTER. WHILE SITTING IN THE TRUCK I START FEELING DIZZY, SINUS START UP AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS IN TRUCK, TIRED ALL THE TIME,WAKE UP WITH HEADACHES. SUSPECT CARBON MONOXIDE COMING IN .DETROIT ENGINE EGR. *JB

Other Freightliner Century Class model years

Check your 2005 Freightliner Century Class VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Freightliner Century Class at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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