1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
5
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
6
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
The 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY has received a total of 5 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES, SUSPENSION:FRONT. 6 technical service bulletins have been issued by FREIGHTLINER LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Equipment (2 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe (1 complaint), and Suspensionrearspringsleaf Spring Assembly (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY, potentially affecting up to 75,677 vehicles.
Recall 00V232002 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
| 35,405 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 98V326000 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
| 6,720 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONNECTING LINKAGE SOCKETS CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT GREASING DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: THIS CAN LEAD TO A SEPARATION OF THE LINKAGE AND LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTING LINKAGES WITH NEW LINKS THAT ARE PROPERLY LUBRICATED.
View full details →Recall 98V085000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT
| 22,186 vehicles affected
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.
Consequence: 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.
View full details →Recall 97V112000 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
| 11,366 vehicles affected
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.
Consequence: INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionrearspringsleaf Spring Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tiressidewall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 64 MPH, THE EXHAUST FUME CAME INTO THE CAB THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM INTAKE. THERE WAS A SMELL OF FUME PRESENT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED EITHER WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN IN AN IDLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CLUMPS AND MANIFOLD HOSE WERE DEFECTIVE. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED.
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR LEFT LEAF SEPARATED FROM WHEEL FRAME, RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO TRUCK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK
CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIR GUAGES BEING INACCURATE, THEY WILL NOT DROP TO ZERO WHEN AIR TANKS ARE DRAINED THEY STILL SHOW 15-20 LBS OF AIR PRESSURE THEY ARE OFF 10-20% WHEN AIR TANKS ARE FULL, CHP INSPECTIONS AT TERMINAL HAVE FOUND ALL AIR GUAGES INCLUDING THE GUAGE THAT WAS REPLACED TO BE INACCURATE.*JB
CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIR GUAGES BEING INACCURATE, THEY WILL NOT DROP TO ZERO WHEN AIR TANKS ARE DRAINED THEY STILL SHOW 15-20 LBS OF AIR PRESSURE THEY ARE OFF 10-20% WHEN AIR TANKS ARE FULL, CHP INSPECTIONS AT TERMINAL HAVE FOUND ALL AIR GUAGES INCLUDING THE GUAGE THAT WAS REPLACED TO BE INACCURATE.*JB
TIRE BLEW OUT ON SIDEWALL RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT.(BRIDGESTONE 295/75R/225).
Safety Rating for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
FREIGHTLINER LLC has issued 6 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
5467 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
INFORMATIONREGARDING LOW COOLANT LEVEL INDICATION. *TT
4619 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
SOME CENTURY CLASS VEHICLES MAY MAKE A POPPING OR THUMPING NOISE DURING LOW SPEED/SHARP-TURN MANEUVERS- THE NOISE MAY OCCUR UNDER THESE CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE SLIP SPLINE OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WILL STICK, THEN SLIDE PRODUCING THE POPPING OR THUMPING NOISE. JD
2029 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
SOME VENDOR-SUPPLIED RADIATOR SURGE TANKS FOR CENTURY CLASS VEHICLES HAVE IRREGULAR SURFACES BETWEEN THE FILLER NECK AND THE CAP, CAUSING THE CAPS TO LEAK. *JD
5464 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
TROUBLESHOOTING THE INSTRUMENTATION CONTROL UNIT (ICU) PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE ICU SYSTEMS AND FUNCTIONS. *JD
4914 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TOP EXHAUST STACKS ON FLB COES, FLD CONVENTIONALS, FLL COES, AND CENTURY CLASS VEHICLES ARE INSTALLED AT A 45-DEGREE ANGLE OUTBOARD RATHER THAN FACING STRAIGHT BACK- THIS CONFIGURATION INCREASES EPA NOISE TEST EMISSIONS ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. *JD
5458 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RECONFIGURE EITHER THE INSTRUMENTATION CONTROL UNIT (ICU) OR THE DATA LOGGING UNIT (DLU)- ALWAYS RECONFIGURE THE UNIT WHEN IT HAS BEEN REPLACED. *JD
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
- 1995 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 0 complaints
- 1996 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 0 complaints
- 1997 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY (current)
- 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 21 complaints
- 1999 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 10 complaints
- 2000 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 19 complaints
- 2001 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 4 complaints
- 2002 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 0 complaints
Other FREIGHTLINER Models
- FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA — 396 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER — 188 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL — 117 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA — 110 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 — 64 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2 — 62 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER FL-70 — 50 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER MT — 39 total complaints