2004 Freightliner Columbia Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Freightliner Columbia, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine969.2%
- Transmission215.4%
- Electrical17.7%
- Tires & wheels17.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
PERSONAL FRIEND/TRUCK DRIVER WAS DRIVING 2004 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA WITH MERCEDES ENGINE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. OTHER MOTORIST SAW HIM DRIVING ERRATICALLY, AND CALLED POLICE. DASH CAMERA RECORDS HIM WEAVING IN THE ROAD AND FINALLY VEERING INTO ONCOMING LANE, CRASHING INTO CONCRETE BARRIER. IMPACT WITH THE WALL CAUSES FUEL TANK TO SEPARATE FROM CAB, CAUSING SMALL FIRE WHICH DID NOT BURN DRIVER OR CAB. DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. AUTOPSY REVEALED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH LEVEL OF CO IN BLOOD (61-65 %), BUT NO HEART ATTACK OR STROKE OR ANY OTHER NATURAL CAUSE. DEATH IS RULED ACCIDENTAL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT MANY OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE IS APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE, AND OTHERS WILL DIE UNLESS THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTED. *TR
I HAVE A FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA WITH A MBE 4000 MERCEDES ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK IN A SHOP FOR AN EXHAUST LEAK. THIS TIME THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING FUMES INTO THE CAB AND MADE ME SICK WITH CARBON MONOXIDE. TOOK TRUCK TO PENN DETROIT DIESEL IN YORK HAVEN,PA. THEY FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS OFF ON PORT #1 AND #2 BY 1/16 INCH THERE BY ALLOWING EXHAUST FUMES TO ESCAPE AND ENTER THE CAB THROUGH THE FRESH AIR VENT THAT IS UNDER THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK. THEY CHECKED FOR EXHAUST LEAKS AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. I THEN HOOKED UP TO MY TRAILER AND DID MY WALK AROUND AND SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. I WHEN BACK IN AND REPORTED THIS AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE OIL BURNING OFF THE MANIFOLD. I AM STILL GETTING CO IN THE TRUCK. WILL THIS END WHEN I DIE OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE??ANY HELP ON THIS MATTER WOULD BE GRATEFUL!!!! *NM
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH WAS HARD TO RELEASE, CHECK AND FOUND CLUTCH WAS COMING APART. REPLACE CLUTCH,EVERYTHING WORKS FINE NOW. *NM
CLUTCH EXPLODE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND LOCKED TRUCK IN GEAR AND FRAGMENTS WENT THOUGHT THE BELL HOUSING. COULD HAVE HIT OTHER AUTOS ON HGHWAY OR COULD HAVE SENT FRAGMENT INTO CAB OF TRUCK AND INJURED OR KILLED DRIVER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
2004 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *KB ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE FIRE STARTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE SHORT IN THE WRING. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
2004 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA CONVENTIONAL TIRE BLOW OUT. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT IT CAUSED THE SECOND TRAILER TO HIT A GUARDRAIL IN TWO LOCATIONS. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0013-89. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .