1998 Freightliner Century
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Freightliner › Century › 1998
These records cover every 1998 Freightliner Century. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
5 recalls name the 1998 Freightliner Century. Newest first.
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 and remedy
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.
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…
Risk and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
Risk
Loss of steering control could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the tie rod ends and tube assembly.
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. the outboard bearing on the steering axle hubs can fail due to water intrusion through a hubcap vent.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If this problem goes undetected, the interaxle driveline can separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the u-joints with the current design u-joints.
Owner complaints
9 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Seat belts › Rear/other
The rear passenger seat belt retractor IS jammed. the consumer made contact with the manufacture and the warranty has expired. this IS the second occurrence for this belt jamming. *nm
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe · Steering › Hydraulic power assist system · Suspension · Unknown or other
1998 century class model trailer experiencing multiple problems.*mr the manufacturer informed the consumer that one of the u-joints had gone bad, the flex line had rotted away which connected to the exhaust manifold which caused a leak. the vehicle experienced a power steering leak, also the air…
1998 century class model trailer experiencing multiple problems.*mr the manufacturer informed the consumer that one of the u-joints had gone bad, the flex line had rotted away which connected to the exhaust manifold which caused a leak. the vehicle experienced a power steering leak, also the air filter was replaced. the consumer was assigned another tractor, however it was a 2001 model and he soon discovered the fan blades were completely black and he had to tape a filter over the air intake. *jb *nlm
- Power train › Axle assembly · Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
Consumer applied brakes firmly and axle fell off. vehicle IS a century classic, 2000. cosumer may not be aware of nhtsa recall 99v35 9000/ manufacturer's recall f L-251 concerning tie rod end. will try and contact consumer to inform system was down. *Ak
- Power train › Axle assembly
Consumer felt a vibration in the drivetrain, the driveshaft and connecting components came flying out from under the vehicle, the yoke on the back of the front drive axle was cracked and came apart causing all the parts to come off, the consumer feels that if there were grease fittings on these parts the cracking would have been spotted when doing a grease job.
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Driver side wiper arm fell off. yh
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe · Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor system
Intake manifold leaks fuel. yh
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Exhaust system flex pipe within the turbo cracked, allowing exhaust leaks into the clean air and firewall, which then went into the air conditioner and into the cab ofthe truck. *ak
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
The windshield wipers keep blowing off the truck . The dealer response was "thats a piss poor way to make a wiper" . This as you know did not fix the problems I have 25 trucks with the same problems . My concern IS that when it blows off it will hit another vehicle and cause an accident . Your help would greatly be appreciated. *ak
- Exterior lighting › Turn signal · Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Injectors · Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch · Seats · Structure
Turn signal loose.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Front brake air hose leaks
Certain 1998-2001 freightliner century and columbia vehicles exhibit a higher rate of front brake air hose leaks than earlier vintage freightliner vehicles.the leaks have been frequently discovered at fmcsa roadside inspections since these inspections are conducted with the brakes applied (pressurizing the air hose)…
Certain 1998-2001 freightliner century and columbia vehicles exhibit a higher rate of front brake air hose leaks than earlier vintage freightliner vehicles.the leaks have been frequently discovered at fmcsa roadside inspections since these inspections are conducted with the brakes applied (pressurizing the air hose) whereas driver pre-trip inspections may not always be performed with the brakes applied. After a thorough technical review of this matter,odi has concuded that while the subject vehicles exhibit a higher rate of front brake air hose leaks than earlier vintage and peer vehicles, these leaks appear to be minor. Freightliner has extended the warranty for this component to 5 years, 500,000 miles and will assist in alerting those vehicle owners whose vehicles are most susceptible to front brake air hose leakage by issuing a service bulletin alerting those owners to the potential for front brake air hose leakage to occur. See attached report for full technical details.
- Integral hub and bearing assembly
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…
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.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10141697sb2057 New Surge Tank Design
- 621719Field service campaign to modify certain vehicles, manufacutred between october 3, 1997 and august 18, 2000, that may develop small pin hole leaks in the power steering supply hose.
- 612071Vehicles manufactured between may 1, 1998 and december 7, 1998 may have a quadramount tensioner incorrectly installed with a lockwasher instead of the proper flatwasher.
- 601552Concerns with the high coolant temperature warning light illuminated.
Every Freightliner Century model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.