Fumes coming into cab, making me sick, headache, burning eyes, disoriented. Tired, fatigue, last eight days this started.
The worst 2004 Freightliner Century problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine1
Recalls 3
Steering: linkages
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- If this occurs, the vehicle could suffer a loss of steering ability, which could result in a crash.
- 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.
Recall number 05V408000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- 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.
Recall number 04V590000 · Recall details
Power train: manual transmission
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
Recall number 04V205000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 2004 Freightliner Century
Defect investigations
Power steering pump failures
Odi's investigation of the subject power steering pump has found that, with over five years of operational exposure, there have been no pump failures that resulted in loss of power steering assist while the vehicle was being driven on the road or any sudden drop off in the power steering assist at any time.there are no crashes or injuries.these reduction in assist events have only occurred during backing or parking maneuvers.freightliner and trw appear to have acted responsibly in providing information to customers and dealers regarding safe maintenance and repair procedures for power steering pumps that have experienced a reduction in speed of steer.freightliner's field service bulletin, fsb 46-38, is a diagnostic procedure for determining if the trw power steering pump is responsible for reduced power assist and describes corrective actions that should be taken once the determination is made.the corrective actions are:replace the spool valve assembly (vehicles built prior to 1/1/05) or, replace the power steering pump (vehicles built after 1/1/05).a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.for more detailed information see document file.
PE08009
Steering column weld cracks
Early warning aggregate data submitted to the federal safety agency by freightliner suggests that a steering (ewr code 01) problem exists for the 2004 and 2005 century and columbia class vehicles.the count of field reports submitted for the first quarter of 2006 was significantly higher than the average of the previous 6 quarters for the aggregate steering data.further review of the ewr data foundfield reports that described steering column failures as a result of welds cracking or breaking.information received from freightliner details a number of steering columnfailures on the subject vehicles.these failures were the result of missing and cracked welds on the steering column assembly.an engineering analysis (ea) is warranted to determine if the weld failures in the steering column create a situation where the vehicle becomes difficult to steer or startles the driver presenting a safety risk.
PE06033
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Freightliner Century 1
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
What 2004 Freightliner Century owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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).
Compare the 2004 Freightliner Century
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Questions about the 2004 Freightliner Century
Is the 2004 Freightliner Century reliable?
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2004 Freightliner Century, fewer than a typical Century model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Freightliner Century?
Engine and cooling, with 1 complaint.
How many recalls does the 2004 Freightliner Century have?
3 recalls, covering steering and power train.
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