1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
21
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
The 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY has received a total of 21 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by FREIGHTLINER LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher (4 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe (3 complaints), and Fuel System Gasolinecarburetor System (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY, potentially affecting up to 68,871 vehicles.
Recall 03V112000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
| 5,716 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →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 99V359000 — STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
| 2,588 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE ROD ENDS AND TUBE ASSEMBLY.
View full details →Recall 99V295000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
| 2,976 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE OUTBOARD BEARING ON THE STEERING AXLE HUBS CAN FAIL DUE TO WATER INTRUSION THROUGH A HUBCAP VENT.
Consequence: 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.
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 →Owner Complaints for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
21 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinecarburetor System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainaxle Assembly | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingturn Signal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection Systeminjectors | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsrearother | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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
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
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
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
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
Safety Rating for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY
FREIGHTLINER LLC has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SF229A — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
FIELD 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. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 1998 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 — 5 complaints
- 1998 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY (current)
- 1999 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 10 complaints
- 2000 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 19 complaints
- 2001 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 4 complaints
- 2002 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 0 complaints
- 2003 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY — 4 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