2003 Freightliner Century recalls and problems

The 2003 Freightliner Century has 2 recalls and 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is tires.

How the 2003 compares

Average

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 7 Century model years — 4th most.

2recalls

4complaints

0crashes

1fires

0injuries

200,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

2 recalls

Power Train

May 4, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V205000 · 14,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: If shift lever detachment occurs, tha ability ro accelerate ot maintain speed will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

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).

Service Brakes

Dec 4, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V500000 · 400 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Remedy & notes

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.

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).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Tires2

Engine1

Vehicle Speed Control1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2003 vs. other Freightliner Century years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Freightliner Century have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Freightliner Century, the latest from May 4, 2004 (power train). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Freightliner Century?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention tires (2), engine (1), vehicle speed control (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.