NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Freightliner Century Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Freightliner Century has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 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 2003 Freightliner Century. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Freightliner Century owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Freightliner Century, describing incidents dated March 22, 2004 to April 15, 2025.

Most-cited components

Tires 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Of the 4 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11656059 · Filed April 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2003 Freightliner Century CST120 equipped with Yokohama Tires, Tire Line: TY517MC2, Tire Size: 295/75/R22, DOT Number: N/A. The contact stated that the tires had cracked on the sidewalls. The contact called a tire center which scheduled an appointment. The tires were not yet…
ODI #10212530 · Filed December 21, 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…
ODI #10146439 · Filed December 22, 2005
2003 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *TS *NM

Read all 4 complaints

FREIGHTLINER/TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ATTACHMENT

NHTSA #04V205000 · Power Train — Manual Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported May 4, 2004 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 14,000 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-420 · Owners notified May 21, 2004 · Vehicles built starting October 17, 2003 (per NHTSA)

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.

Safety consequence

IF SHIFT LEVER DETACHMENT OCCURS, THA ABILITY RO ACCELERATE OT MAINTAIN SPEED WILL BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-420.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

FREIGHTLINER/AIR LINE CARTRIDGE

NHTSA #03V500000 · Service Brakes, Air · NHTSA notice

Reported December 4, 2003 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 400 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-418 · Owners notified January 26, 2004 · Vehicles built September 8, 2003 – September 25, 2003 (per NHTSA)

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-418.CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Freightliner Century. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Freightliner Century.

Tires

ODI #11656059

Incident: April 15, 2025 · Filed: April 22, 2025

The contact owns a 2003 Freightliner Century CST120 equipped with Yokohama Tires, Tire Line: TY517MC2, Tire Size: 295/75/R22, DOT Number: N/A. The contact stated that the tires had cracked on the sidewalls. The contact called a tire center which scheduled an appointment. The tires were not yet inspected. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle failure mileage was 200,000. The tire failure mileage was unknown.

Tires

ODI #10212530

Incident: December 12, 2007 · Filed: December 21, 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 THE WAY. THIS WAS A FIRESTONE FS 507 295/75 R 22.5 DOT WI BT 3PT 1207. THE TIRE STILL HAD 99 LBS OF AIR. I HAD TO PURCHASE A TIRE AND 1100.00 IN PARTS TO SAFELY OPERATE TRUCK. WE CANT GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM FIRESTONE OR THE TA. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10146439

Fire

Incident: June 19, 2005 · Filed: December 22, 2005

2003 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *TS *NM

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10063577

Incident: March 22, 2004 · Filed: April 20, 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

Other Freightliner Century model years

Check your 2003 Freightliner Century VIN

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

Check a Freightliner VIN