Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Freightliner Century
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Freightliner Century has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #05V408000 STEERING LINKAGES/ZF NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V590000 FREIGHTLINER/ARVIN-MERITOR/INTERAXLE DRIVELINE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V205000 FREIGHTLINER/TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ATTACHMENT NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 1 complaint
- Unknown or Other 1 complaint
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$18,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Freightliner CENTURY has had notable recalls, particularly concerning steering linkages and the powertrain, impacting reliability. Despite low complaint counts, the potential severity of these issues warrants attention.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering linkages | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,000–$1,500 | common |
| driveline yokes | 70,000–110,000 miles | $800–$1,300 | occasional |
| manual transmission | 90,000–140,000 miles | $1,500–$2,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Engine oil and filter change
- Brake system inspection
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Cooling system flush
- Air filter replacement
- Alignment check
- Differential oil change
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Grinding noise in steering
- Difficulty shifting gears
- Vibration from driveline
- Unusual engine overheating
- Loose steering feeling
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Freightliner Century at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.