2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
2
Owner Complaints
6
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD
The 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD has received a total of 2 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, WHEELS:HUB. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by FREIGHTLINER LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problem area is the Steeringlinkagesknucklespindlearm (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD, potentially affecting up to 139,022 vehicles.
Recall 11V478000 — FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
| 73,500 vehicles affected
Defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 11, 2003, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH EPA04 MODEL MBE4000 ENGINES BUILT WITH PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTERS MOUNTED NEAR THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE BETWEEN ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL FILTER AND...
Consequence: THIS COULD CREATE A ROAD HAZARD INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A STEEL LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE. THIS...
View full details →Recall 09V366000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
| 25,362 vehicles affected
Defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.
Consequence: AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE CATERPILLAR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT...
View full details →Recall 05V285000 — WHEELS:HUB
| 1,786 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 3RD GENERATION CONMET ALUMINUM WHEELS, THE DRUM MOUNTING FLANGE ON THE CONMET TRUTURN BRAKE DRUM MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A TAPER FROM THE PILOT HOLE TO THE BARREL OF THE DRUM.
Consequence: THIS TAPER MAY CAUSE CRACKING OR FRACTURES OF THE FRONT HUB. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND TESTING, FREIGHTLINER HAS REVISED THE POPULATION AND THE REMEDY (DECEMBER 22, 2005). THEREFORE, THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
View full details →Recall 05V408000 — STEERING:LINKAGES
| 37,029 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCK AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH I-SHAFTS SUPPLIED BY ZF HEAVY DUTY STEERING, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FAILURE OF THE FORK/SHAFT CONNECTION.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE COULD SUFFER A LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ATTACH A TENSION COLLAR TO THE STEERING SHAFT TO SECURE THE CONNECTION TO THE YOKE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
View full details →Recall 04V591000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
| 250 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: LOOSE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD JAM NUTS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADJUST THE PEDAL PUSHROD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
View full details →Recall 04V590000 — POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
| 1,095 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE INTERAXLE DRIVELINE YOKES. THE BOLT HOLES LOCATED ON THE EARWORK OF THE MALE SHAFT YOKES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN OVERSIZED MINOR THREAD DIAMETER.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION ALLOWS THE BOLTS USED IN THE HOLES TO BECOME DETACHED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DRIVELINE SEPARATION. DRIVELINE SEPARATION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT MALE SHAFT YOKES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 4, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steeringlinkagesknucklespindlearm | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspensionfrontking Pin | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST I WAS ASKED TO EXAMINE THE FRONT AXLE OF A LATE MODEL FREIGHTLINER TRUCK-TRACTOR THAT HAD BEEN IN A LOSS-OF-STEERING-CONTROL TYPE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE TRACTOR, THE TRAILER, THE TRAILER LOAD AND INJURY TO THE DRIVER. UPON EXAMINING THE LEFT FRONT STEERING SPINDLE I NOTICED IT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. THE PLACE WHERE THE SPINDLE CONNECTS TO THE AXLE IS EFFECTED BY AN INTERFERENCE FIT BETWEEN A SOLID CYLINDER AND A CYLINDRICAL HOLE WITH NO OTHER MEANS OF JOINING THE TWO PARTS. THE HOLE WAS CRACKED WHICH CAUSED A PARTIAL LOSS OF INTERENCE FIT WHICH ALLOWED THE SPINDLE TO WORK ITS WAY OUT OF THE HOLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS LOSS OF LOAD SUPPORT BY THE WHEEL AND A LOSS OF STEERING. THERE WAS NO IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL SO THE SEPARATION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT NOT A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THIS WAS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE FRONT AXLE BUT IT IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME IF IT IS A (1) DESIGN DEFECT , (2) MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR (3) A MATERIAL DEFECT. HOWEVER, THERE IS A DEFECT AND IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSAND OF THESE TRUCK TRACTORS OPERATING RIGHT NOW WITH STEERING AXLES POTENTIALLY ABOUT TO FAIL AND WHEN THEY DO THE EFFECTS WILL BE CATASTROPHIC TO THE DRIVERS, OTHER MOTORISTS AND CARGOES. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IS TO STOP THE TRUCKS, RECALL THE TRUCKS AND REPLACE OR MODIFY THE SPINDLE-AXLE CONNECTION SO THAT THEY CAN'T SEPARATE. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A MEETING OF A NUMBER OF TRUCKING COMPANIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY GOOD RESPONSE FROM FREIGHTLINER REGARDING FIXING THE PROBLEM. FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLIC SAFETY YOU SHOULD OPEN AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE TRUCK TRACTORS AND THEIR DEFECTIVE STEERING AXLES ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS.
AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST I WAS ASKED TO EXAMINE THE FRONT AXLE OF A LATE MODEL FREIGHTLINER TRUCK-TRACTOR THAT HAD BEEN IN A LOSS-OF-STEERING-CONTROL TYPE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE TRACTOR, THE TRAILER, THE TRAILER LOAD AND INJURY TO THE DRIVER. UPON EXAMINING THE LEFT FRONT STEERING SPINDLE I NOTICED IT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. THE PLACE WHERE THE SPINDLE CONNECTS TO THE AXLE IS EFFECTED BY AN INTERFERENCE FIT BETWEEN A SOLID CYLINDER AND A CYLINDRICAL HOLE WITH NO OTHER MEANS OF JOINING THE TWO PARTS. THE HOLE WAS CRACKED WHICH CAUSED A PARTIAL LOSS OF INTERENCE FIT WHICH ALLOWED THE SPINDLE TO WORK ITS WAY OUT OF THE HOLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS LOSS OF LOAD SUPPORT BY THE WHEEL AND A LOSS OF STEERING. THERE WAS NO IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL SO THE SEPARATION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT NOT A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THIS WAS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE FRONT AXLE BUT IT IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME IF IT IS A (1) DESIGN DEFECT , (2) MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR (3) A MATERIAL DEFECT. HOWEVER, THERE IS A DEFECT AND IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSAND OF THESE TRUCK TRACTORS OPERATING RIGHT NOW WITH STEERING AXLES POTENTIALLY ABOUT TO FAIL AND WHEN THEY DO THE EFFECTS WILL BE CATASTROPHIC TO THE DRIVERS, OTHER MOTORISTS AND CARGOES. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IS TO STOP THE TRUCKS, RECALL THE TRUCKS AND REPLACE OR MODIFY THE SPINDLE-AXLE CONNECTION SO THAT THEY CAN'T SEPARATE. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A MEETING OF A NUMBER OF TRUCKING COMPANIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY GOOD RESPONSE FROM FREIGHTLINER REGARDING FIXING THE PROBLEM. FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLIC SAFETY YOU SHOULD OPEN AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE TRUCK TRACTORS AND THEIR DEFECTIVE STEERING AXLES ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS.
Safety Rating for the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD
FREIGHTLINER LLC has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SB83133 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
New H02 and H03 A/C lines.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FREIGHTLINER FLD
- 1999 FREIGHTLINER FLD — 1 complaint
- 2000 FREIGHTLINER FLD — 1 complaint
- 2001 FREIGHTLINER FLD — 1 complaint
- 2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD (current)
- 2005 FREIGHTLINER FLD — 1 complaint
- 2006 FREIGHTLINER FLD — 0 complaints
- 2007 FREIGHTLINER FLD — 0 complaints
- 2008 FREIGHTLINER FLD — 1 complaint
- 2009 FREIGHTLINER FLD — 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 CENTURY — 76 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500 — 64 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2 — 62 total complaints
- FREIGHTLINER FL-70 — 50 total complaints