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2004 Freightliner FLD problems

The most common problem on the 2004 Freightliner FLD is steering. Its complaint count is close to a typical FLD model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
6
Service bulletins
113
Worst area
Steering

The worst 2004 Freightliner FLD problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Steering
    1
  • Suspension
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Steering
    1
  • Suspension
    1

Recalls 6

Fuel system, dieselReported September 16, 2011 · 73,500 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2004 through 2008 heavy trucks manufactured from july 11, 2003, through september 28, 2007, equipped with epa04 model mbe4000 engines built with plastic low pressure fuel lines and fuel filters mounted near the center of the engine on the left-hand side. The plastic low pressure fuel line between engine mounted fuel filter and engine block may develop a substantial diesel fuel leak.
Risk
This could create a road hazard increasing the risk of a crash. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Remedy
Daimler trucks will notify owners and the remedy will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities. Vehicles will be inspected and the plastic low pressure fuel line will be replaced with a steel low pressure fuel line. This service will be performed free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on october 28, 2011. The safety recall began on february 21, 2012. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 11V478000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported September 23, 2009 · 25,362 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Daimler trucks is recalling model year 2004-2010 trucks equipped with caterpillar c15 engine. The variable valve actuation oil line may rub against the p-clips retaining the oil line, causing an oil leak.
Risk
An oil leak may result in a fire.
Remedy
Daimler trucks is working with caterpillar to remedy these vehicles. Please see caterpillar's defect report 09e-020. Caterpillar will inspect and repair the necessary components free of charge. The recall began on may 5, 2009. Owners may contact caterpillar toll-free at 1‑800‑447‑4986 or daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 09V366000 · Recall details

Steering: linkagesReported September 13, 2005 · 37,029 vehicles affected
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

Wheels: hubReported June 14, 2005 · 1,786 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain trucks equipped with 3rd generation conmet aluminum wheels, the drum mounting flange on the conmet truturn brake drum may have been manufactured with a taper from the pilot hole to the barrel of the drum.
Risk
This taper may cause cracking or fractures of the front hub. This could cause a crash without prior warning.
Remedy
After further investigation and testing, freightliner has revised the population and the remedy (december 22, 2005). Therefore, the recall began on march 15, 2006. Owners may contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 05V285000 · Recall details

Power train: drivelineReported December 15, 2004 · 1,095 vehicles affected
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

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkagesReported December 15, 2004 · 250 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain trucks, the brake pedal pushrod was not tightened properly during assembly.
Risk
Loose brake pedal pushrod jam nuts could cause loss of control of the vehicle and a crash may occur.
Remedy
Dealers will adjust the pedal pushrod. The recall began on april 11, 2005. Owners should contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 04V591000 · Recall details

See all 6 recalls for the 2004 Freightliner FLD

Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Freightliner FLD 113

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 113 bulletins for the 2004 Freightliner FLD

What 2004 Freightliner FLD owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed May 3, 2005 · Steering, Suspension · 200,000 miles · TX · crash · 1 injury

As a mechanical engineer and accident reconstructionist I was asked to examine the front axle of a late model freightliner truck-tractor that had been in a loss-of-steering-control type accident. The accident resulted in a total loss of the tractor, the trailer, the trailer load and injury to the driver. Upon examining the left front steering spindle I noticed it had separated from the axle. The place where the spindle connects to the axle is effected by an interference fit between a solid cylinder and a cylindrical hole with no other means of joining the two parts. The hole was cracked which caused a partial loss of interence fit which allowed the spindle to work its way out of the hole. When this occurs there is loss of load support by the wheel and a loss of steering. There was no impact damage to the wheel so the separation was the cause of the accident not a result of the accident. This was clearly a defective front axle but it is not known at this time if it is a (1) design defect , (2) manufacturing defect or (3) a material defect. However, there is a defect and it is a very serious problem because there are several thousand of these truck tractors operating right now with steering axles potentially about to fail and when they do the effects will be catastrophic to the drivers, other motorists and cargoes. The only way to correct this problem is to stop the trucks, recall the trucks and replace or modify the spindle-axle connection so that they can't separate. I know that there was a meeting of a number of trucking companies that have experienced this problem and that they have not had any good response from freightliner regarding fixing the problem. For the sake of public safety you should open an investigation of this problem as soon as possible. These truck tractors and their defective steering axles are ticking time bombs on our nation's highways.

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Questions about the 2004 Freightliner FLD

Is the 2004 Freightliner FLD reliable?

Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2004 Freightliner FLD, close to a typical FLD model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Freightliner FLD?

Steering, with 1 complaint. Next is suspension (1).

How many recalls does the 2004 Freightliner FLD have?

6 recalls, covering fuel system, diesel, engine and engine cooling and steering.

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