Owners filed 6 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › alternator/generator/regulator. It has been recalled 7 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
1
0
0
0
Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly
1
0
0
0
Power Train › Manual Transmission
1
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
1
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel
1
0
1
0
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
0
0
0
7 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Hub03V112000
Filed Mar 21, 20035,716 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation
Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
Risk. SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 2003. 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 1-800-547-0712.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN MERITOR AXLES. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.
Risk. THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2001. 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 1-800-547-0712.
Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly01V044002
Filed Feb 21, 200116,000 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY TRW. THE SUSPECT TIE RODS CONTAIN 24-DL MODEL BALL SOCKETS. CERTAIN OF THE TIE ROD BALL-SOCKET BEARINGS HAVE A BELOW-SPECIFICATION CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE SOCKET.
Risk. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BALL SOCKETS AND/OR DRAG LINKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 22, 2001. 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 1-800-547-0712 OR TRW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-280-3287.
Service Brakes, Air › Antilock00V232002
Filed Aug 7, 200035,405 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END THAT GENERATES A CERTAIN TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Air Suspension System00V081000
Filed Mar 17, 200013,545 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH DUAL LEAF SPRING TYPE AIR RIDE SUSPENSIONS AND VEHICLES BUILT WITH SINGLE LEAF SPRING TYPE AIR RIDE SUSPENSIONS. REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS CAN FRACTURE THROUGH THE CENTER BOLT HOLE AFTER VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.
Risk. IF UNDETECTED, THE REAR END OF THE SPRING COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING A HAZARDOUS ROAD DEBRIS SITUATION.
Remedy. FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SINGLE LEAF SPRINGS, DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL SPRINGS. FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DUAL LEAF SPRINGS, DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKED SPRINGS AND REPLACE IF CRACKED.
Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly99V359000
Filed Dec 29, 19992,588 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE TIE ROD ENDS CAN FRACTURE DUE TO LOW STRESS, HIGH CYCLE, REVERSED BENDING FATIGUE RESULTING FROM A SYSTEM RESONANCE.
Risk. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE ROD ENDS AND TUBE ASSEMBLY.
Suspension › Front › Hub99V295000
Filed Oct 26, 19992,976 vehiclesFreightliner Corporation
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE OUTBOARD BEARING ON THE STEERING AXLE HUBS CAN FAIL DUE TO WATER INTRUSION THROUGH A HUBCAP VENT.
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HUBCAP AND INSPECT FOR WATER INTRUSION AND CORROSION. THE HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CORROSION. A NON-VENTED HUBCAP WILL BE INSTALLED.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › DieselFire
Filed Aug 28, 2007ME
1999 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB
Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Mar 24, 2005NJ
PROBLEM WITH REVERSE IDLER GEAR, BOLT UNSCREWED ON IT OWN.. DISCOVERED THERE IIS A REPLACEMENT KIT REDESIGNED TO STOP THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURING BUT COSTS TO REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE
Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly
Filed Jul 14, 2003GA
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY AND HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE REPLACED. CONSUMER BELIEVES PROBLEM IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ENDS. RELATED RECALL 01V140007, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Jul 2, 2002WI
ALARM FOR T AIR CIRCULATION KEPT GOING OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Jun 1, 2001CA
FUEL LEAK. *AK
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Jun 6, 2000FL
THE ALTERNATOR WAS LOOSE AND THE BOLT HAD DESTROYED THE ALTERNATOR AND BRACKET WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. YH
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Mar 21, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.