RoadVitals

1996 Freightliner Century Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Recall campaignsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
7
Newest Dec 21, 1998
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
0
Open investigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
1 investigation on file

Recall campaigns

7 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

98V326000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Dec 21, 1998
6,720 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONNECTING LINKAGE SOCKETS CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT GREASING DURING ASSEMBLY.
The risk: THIS CAN LEAD TO A SEPARATION OF THE LINKAGE AND LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTING LINKAGES WITH NEW LINKS THAT ARE PROPERLY LUBRICATED.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number FL-228AView on NHTSA.gov
98V085000

SUSPENSION:FRONT

Apr 21, 1998
22,186 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR INTERAXLE DRIVELINE U-JOINTS. DEFLECTOR RINGS, A PART OF THE SYSTEM TO SEAL THE U-JOINTS FROM CONTAMINATES, ARE LOOSE. THIS ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE U-JOINT BEARING AREA RESULT IN DILUTION OF THE LUBRICANT, OXIDATION OF THE BEARING AND SEAL SURFACES, AND LOSS OF LUBRICANT.
The risk: IF THIS PROBLEM GOES UNDETECTED, THE INTERAXLE DRIVELINE CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE U-JOINTS WITH THE CURRENT DESIGN U-JOINTS.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
97V112000

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Jul 16, 1997
11,366 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. LEAKS THROUGH THE FIREWALL OR STEERING SHAFT BOOTS ALLOWS WATER TO RUN DOWN THE STEERING SHAFT. THE STEERING SHAFT SLIP SPLINE CORRODES CAUSING IT TO SEIZE.
The risk: INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT WITH A NEW DESIGN THAT IS INSTALLED IN AN INVERTED ORIENTATION SO NO WATER CAN ENTER THE SPLINES.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
97V006000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Jan 21, 1997
121 units potentially affected
The defect: DUE TO UNDERSIZED RIVETS AND OVERSIZED HOLES, THE B-PILLAR ANCHORAGE WILL NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGE MAY NOT HOLD AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
96V233003

SUSPENSION:REAR

Nov 20, 1996
1,410 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EATON DRIVE AXLES AND AXILOK SPINDLE NUTS. THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.
The risk: THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THIS TAB IS DEFORMED, THE NUT CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
96V197000

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

Oct 8, 1996
3,800 units potentially affected
The defect: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR IN THE AUXILLIARY HEATER/AIRCONDITIONING BLOWER IF EXPOSED TO WATER.
The risk: THE SHORTED RELAY CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE RELAY WITH ONE THAT RESISTS SHORTING IF CONTACTED BY WATER AND DOES NOT SUPPORT COMBUSTION EVEN IF SHORTED.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
96V181001

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Sep 24, 1996
258 units potentially affected
The defect: THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A DETROIT DIESEL OPTIMIZED IDLE SYSTEM. IF THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON AND THE FUSE FOR THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) POWER FEED LINE IS REMOVED OR BURNED OUT, THE SAFETY FEATURES DESIGNED TO PREVENT INJURY TO PERSONS WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE WILL BE BYPASSED, AND UNINTENTIONAL CRANKING OF THE ENGINE WILL OCCUR.
The risk: IF UNINTENTIONAL CRANKING OF THE ENGINE OCCURS, PERSONS WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE COULD BE INJURED AND THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE.
The remedy: DETROIT DIESEL DISTRIBUTORS WILL REWIRE THE VEHICLES USING A REVISED ECM WHICH WILL ELIMINATE UNINTENTIONAL CRANKING.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
Safety investigation
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
Manufacturer communication
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and it is not a recall.

PE02088ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY

Opened Nov 22, 2002
Closed May 1, 2003

FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD TO FREIGHTLINER IN THE AFTERMARKET. ODI NOTES THAT THERE ARE TWOINTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES PER FRONT AXLE.FREIGHTLINER IDENTIFIED VEHICLES INCLUDINGFREIGHTLINER,STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR BRAND NAME AS BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

WHEELSLed to recall 03E019000

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources