NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Freightliner Century Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Freightliner Century has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 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 2004 Freightliner Century. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2004 Freightliner Century owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Freightliner Century, describing incidents dated December 21, 2005 to September 17, 2006.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10168465 · Filed September 17, 2006
FUMES COMING INTO CAB, MAKING ME SICK, HEADACHE, BURNING EYES, DISORIENTED. TIRED, FATIGUE, LAST EIGHT DAYS THIS STARTED. *JB
ODI #10145955 · Filed December 23, 2005
MY NAME IS [XXX]AND I AM A DRIVER FOR ARNOLD TRANSPORTATION. ON 12/21/2005, AT APPROX. 1500 HRS, I ATTEMPTED TO QUIT ARNOLDS TRUCKING BECAUSE THE COMPANY CONSTANTLY PUT ME IN POSITIONS WHEREAS I HAVE TO RUN ILLEGALLY TO MAKE SOME OF MY DELIVERIES ON TIME. WHEN I COMPLIANT ABOUT IT, I AM HARASSED…

Read all 2 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Freightliner Century in 2 investigations. 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.

Preliminary Evaluation PE08-009: POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURES
Closed July 3, 2008
Preliminary Evaluation PE06-033: STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS
Closed January 30, 2007

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

STEERING LINKAGES/ZF

NHTSA #05V408000 · Steering — Linkages · NHTSA notice

Reported September 13, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 37,029 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-452 · Owners notified November 16, 2005 · Vehicles built April 1, 2004 – November 30, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE COULD SUFFER A LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-452.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.

FREIGHTLINER/ARVIN-MERITOR/INTERAXLE DRIVELINE

NHTSA #04V590000 · Power Train — Driveline · NHTSA notice

Reported December 15, 2004 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 1,095 vehicles

Freightliner campaign FL-436 · Owners notified April 4, 2005 · Vehicles built May 7, 2004 – October 20, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION ALLOWS THE BOLTS USED IN THE HOLES TO BECOME DETACHED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DRIVELINE SEPARATION. DRIVELINE SEPARATION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-436.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/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).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2004 Freightliner Century. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Freightliner Century.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10168465

Incident: September 17, 2006 · Filed: September 17, 2006

FUMES COMING INTO CAB, MAKING ME SICK, HEADACHE, BURNING EYES, DISORIENTED. TIRED, FATIGUE, LAST EIGHT DAYS THIS STARTED. *JB

Unknown or Other

ODI #10145955

Incident: December 21, 2005 · Filed: December 23, 2005

MY NAME IS [XXX]AND I AM A DRIVER FOR ARNOLD TRANSPORTATION. ON 12/21/2005, AT APPROX. 1500 HRS, I ATTEMPTED TO QUIT ARNOLDS TRUCKING BECAUSE THE COMPANY CONSTANTLY PUT ME IN POSITIONS WHEREAS I HAVE TO RUN ILLEGALLY TO MAKE SOME OF MY DELIVERIES ON TIME. WHEN I COMPLIANT ABOUT IT, I AM HARASSED, REQUIRED TO HAVE MY LOG BOOK INSPECTED AND BEEPED DURING MY 10 HOUR BREAK. I WAS ALSO TOLD TO LOG LOADING TIME AS OFF DUTY SO THAT IT DOESN'T AFFECT MY 7 DAY HOS. WHEN I REFUSED TO RUN OUTSIDE OF DOT REGULATIONS AND TRIED TO QUIT, I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TWO OPTIONS AND THOSE OPTIONS WERE "WORK OR BE TERMINATED", I WAS NEVER TOLD WHAT I WOULD BE TERMINATED FOR, NOR DID I ASK. WHEN I TRIED TO QUIT, I WAS IN CAMP HILL, PA, 700 MILES FROM HOME. THEY OFFER ME A BUS TICKET AND I TOLD THEM I HAD TO MUCH EQUIPMENT IN THE TRUCK AND IT COULD NOT BE SECURED ON A BUS. I ASK THAT I BE ROUTED HOME AND I WAS WILLING TO PICK UP A LOAD THAT WAS GOING TO ATLANTA. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT I AM BEING FORCED TO WORK OR BE TERMINATED AND THEY KNOW I WILL NOT RISK BEING TERMINATED BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GET ANOTHER JOB. THEY WON'T EVEN ALLOW ME TO GO THRU ATLANTA TO CHECK MY MAIL. THEY DID SAY THEY WOULD ALLOW ME SOME HOME TIME AT THE END OF THE MONTH, BUT I WANT OUT NOW. IN SOME CASES I HAVE RUN AS MUCH AS 98 HOURS IN 7 DAYS, I LOG IN MY LOG BOOK, BUT THEY JUST CONTINUE TO RUN ME AND I DON'T WANT TO DO IT ANY LONGER AND AS I SAID EARLIER, I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Other Freightliner Century model years

Check your 2004 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