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1998 Freightliner Century Recalls & Complaints

5

open safety recalls on record

Critical

21 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.00 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical03V112000

Suspension:Front:Hub

SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Serious99V359000

Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly

LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE ROD ENDS AND TUBE ASSEMBLY.

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.

Serious00V232002

Service Brakes, Air:Antilock

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

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 SENSOR SIGNAL.

Serious98V085000

Suspension:Front

IF THIS PROBLEM GOES UNDETECTED, THE INTERAXLE DRIVELINE CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, raises the risk of A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE U-JOINTS WITH THE CURRENT DESIGN U-JOINTS.

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.

Moderate99V295000

Suspension:Front:Hub

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL.

Remedy & full details

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. THE OUTBOARD BEARING ON THE STEERING AXLE HUBS CAN FAIL DUE TO WATER INTRUSION THROUGH A HUBCAP VENT.

Complaint volume

21 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
0Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 21 complaints. Severity Index 0.00.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Visibility · Windshield W…4 · 19%Engine And Engine Cooling…3 · 14%Fuel System, Gasoline · C…2 · 10%Power Train · Axle Assemb…2 · 10%Structure1 · 5%Seats1 · 5%Latches/Locks/Linkages · …1 · 5%Fuel System, Gasoline · F…1 · 5%
  1. Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer — 4 reports
  2. Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe — 3 reports
  3. Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System — 2 reports
  4. Power Train:Axle Assembly — 2 reports
  5. Structure — 1 reports
  6. Seats — 1 reports
  7. Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch — 1 reports
  8. Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors — 1 reports
  9. Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal — 1 reports
  10. Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1997 (4) · 1998 · 1999 (7) · 2000 (6) · 2001 (4) · 2003 (2) · 2004 (3) · 2005 (2) · 2006 (8) · 2008 (9)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.