Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 1999 Freightliner Century with NHTSA between 2000 and 2007.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 30
Against the median year of the Freightliner Century. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 52
10% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 1999 compares with every other Freightliner Century
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1999 Freightliner Century
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Equipment & Accessories
220.0%
Electrical System
220.0%
Tires
110.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
110.0%
Fuel & Propulsion
110.0%
Steering
110.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain
110.0%
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jul 2000peak 4Aug 2007
NHTSA investigations into the 1999 Freightliner Century
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE03005Opened 7 Feb 2003Closed 22 Aug 2003SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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) 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, THE...
PE02088Opened 22 Nov 2002Closed 1 May 2003WHEELS
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 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...
Recalls on the 1999 Freightliner Century
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2003179223 units in Canada
Suspension
On certain vehicles, manufacturing defects in the front axle unitized hubs may cause premature spalling of the wheel bearings. This condition will lead to eventual breakdown of the bearing and potential loss of vehicle control amidst the presence of warning signals such as activation of ABS warning light, steering wheel vibration, brake drag, noise and vehicle pull. Correction: Dealer will replace both front wheel hubs.
Recall 20021974,689 units in Canada
Steering
The TRW tie rod and drag link ball stud ends contain bearings that are below the specified case depth and/or hardness. This can lead to premature wear out and a possible separation of the ball stud from the socket and loss of steering control. Correction: All affected tie rods and drag links with different design ends will be replaced.
Recall 20010852,537 units in Canada
Steering
Certain vehicles equipped with tie rod assemblies manufactured by TRW. The suspect tie rods contain 24-DL model ball sockets. Certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket. If this condition occurs, the driver can lose partial control of the right front wheel, possibly resulting in a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links.
Recall 20002025,033 units in Canada
Steering
On certain vehicles, the TRW tie rod and drag link ball stud ends contain bearing that are below the specified case depth and/or hardness. This can lead to premature wear out and a possible separation of the ball stud from the socket and loss of steering control. Correction: All affected tie rods and drag links with different design ends will be replaced. Note: this supercedes recall FL268.
Recall 20001724,385 units in Canada
Brakes
On certain vehicles, the Bendix ABS ECU misinterprets certain signals from wheel ends which can result in the temporary loss of braking capability on one or more wheel positions for several seconds. This response results from either an ABS cable that has chafed through the insulation and contacted a rotating part or a misaligned tone ring that has been damaged by contacting other components. Correction: ABS ECU will be replaced with a new ECU with upgraded software capable of detecting and properly responding to erroneous signals.
Recall 20000931,141 units in Canada
Suspension
On certain vehicles, the rear suspension springs may fracture through the center bolt hole after vehicle assembly. If undetected, the rear end of the spring may separate from the vehicle causing a hazardous road debris situation. Correction: Inspect for cracked springs and replace if cracked.
Recall 2000028129 units in Canada
Steering
On certain vehicles, the tie rod ends may fracture due to low stress, high cycle, reversed bending fatigue resulting from a system resonance. This condition could result in loss of steering control. Correction: The tie rod ends and tube assembly will be replaced with tie rod ends of a higher strength material specification.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Fort Fairfield, MEFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
1999 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT.
NHTSA complaint #10201485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Fort Fairfield, MEFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
1999 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT.
NHTSA complaint #10201485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
National Park, NJ
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PROBLEM WITH REVERSE IDLER GEAR, BOLT UNSCREWED ON IT OWN.. DISCOVERED THERE IIS A REPLACEMENT KIT REDESIGNED TO STOP THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURING BUT COSTS TO REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE
NHTSA complaint #10114618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montezuma, GA
TIRES
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY AND HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE REPLACED. CONSUMER BELIEVES PROBLEM IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ENDS. RELATED RECALL 01V140007, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10027146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montezuma, GA
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY AND HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE REPLACED. CONSUMER BELIEVES PROBLEM IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ENDS. RELATED RECALL 01V140007, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10027146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shawano, WI
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
ALARM FOR T AIR CIRCULATION KEPT GOING OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8013149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gasquet, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #889598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Melbourne, FL
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C COMPRESSER WAS LEAKING. YH
NHTSA complaint #552509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Melbourne, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE ALTERNATOR WAS LOOSE AND THE BOLT HAD DESTROYED THE ALTERNATOR AND BRACKET WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. YH
NHTSA complaint #552509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Melbourne, FL
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C COMPRESSER WAS LEAKING. YH
NHTSA complaint #552509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Melbourne, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE ALTERNATOR WAS LOOSE AND THE BOLT HAD DESTROYED THE ALTERNATOR AND BRACKET WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. YH
NHTSA complaint #552509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.