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2006 Freightliner Century Recalls & Complaints

8

open safety recalls on record

Critical

8 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 1.50 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical12V074000

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

FUEL LEAK COULD CREATE A ROAD HAZARD, raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND WHERE NECESSARY, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE SUPPORT SYSTEM WILL BE REPLACED BY DTNA AUTHORIZED SERVICE FACILITIES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DTNA AT 1-800-547-0712.

DAIMLER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2013 FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL EPA07 AND EPA10, DD13 AND DD15/16 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 20, 2006, THROUGH FEBRUARY 20, 2012. THE PUMP TO RAIL HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE SUPPORT SYSTEM USED ON THESE ENGINES IS SENSITIVE TO ASSEMBLY TORQUE AND MAY BE DAMAGED DURING SERVICE WORK. AS A RESULT OF OTHER REPAIRS, THE LINE SUPPORTS MAY LOOSEN, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO FUEL LINE CRACKING AND A FUEL LEAK.

Critical11V146000

Engine And Engine Cooling

SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy & full details

DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE RECALL DURING MARCH 2011. ANOTHER NOTIFICATION WILL BE ISSUED ONCE THE REMEDY IS RELEASED. DTNA EXPECTS THE REMEDY TO BE AVAILABLE BY DECEMBER 1, 2011. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DTNA DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DTNA TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712. THIS RECALL IS ASSCOCIATED WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V-341.

DAIMLER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER, CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA FLD, AND M2, STERLING 9500, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 20, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE4000 EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.

Serious05V551000

Power Train:Axle Assembly

DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006, FOR PHASE I. PHASE 2 WILL BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2006. THIS RECALL IS BEING CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES. PHASE I WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE AXLE ASSEMBLY; AND PHASE II WILL REPLACE THE AXLE BEAM AND STEERING KNUCKLES. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, THE TOP FLANGE OF THE FRONT AXLE I-BEAM MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE.

Serious07V169000

Suspension:Front:Hub

IF RAPID BEARING WEAR IS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS, THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT HUB INSTALLATION FOR CORRECT BEARING ADJUSTMENT. IF THE BEARING ADJUSTMENT IS INCORRECT, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-385-4357.

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS BUILT WITH FRONT AXLES ASSEMBLED BY ARVINMERITOR, THE FRONT SPINDLE NUT MAY BE OVER-TIGHTENED CAUSING PRELOAD ON THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH COULD LEAD TO PREMATURE BEARING WEAR.

Serious11V465000

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

IF THE DRIVER IS SLOW TO REACT DURING THIS ESC INTERVENTION, THE VEHICLE MAY DEVIATE FROM THE INTENDED LINE OF TRAVEL raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ESC MODULE WITH THE APPROPRIATE SOFTWARE VERSION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE MAILED ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 21, 2011. THE DATE FOR AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL REMEDY IS SUBJECT TO VALIDATION TESTING AND PARTS AVAILABILITY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2012 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2, CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA, CORONADO AND STERLING A-LINE VEHICLES BUILT WITH MERITOR WABCO ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEM MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2011. UNDER CERTAIN ROAD AND DRIVING CONDITIONS, VEHICLE BODY ROLL AND ROAD INCLINATION CHARACTERISTICS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SLIP ANGLE CALCULATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEM. THIS MIGHT CAUSE THE ESC TO PERCEIVE AN OVER STEERING SITUATION AND THEREFORE APPLY THE OUTER WHEEL BRAKE ON THE FRONT AXLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PERCEIVED TO BE STABLE.

Serious11V514000

Steering:Rack And Pinion

THE STEERING COULD UNEXPECTEDLY TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, MAKING THE VEHICLE MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER BEARING FOR CORROSION. IF CORROSION IS FOUND, THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO CORROSION IS FOUND, ON THE BEARING, THE BEARING WILL BE PACKED WITH GREASE AND THE RUBBER BELLOWS WILL BE REPLACED WITH SEALANT ADDED BETWEEN THE BELLOWS AND THE RACK HOUSING. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED IN DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA, COLUMBIA, CENTURY, CORONADO, AND CLASSIC XL TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2004, THROUGH JUNE 15, 2010 FOR THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. THE LOWER PINION BEARING MAY CORRODE AND FAIL. A FAILED BEARING MAY LEAD TO DAMAGE OF THE SPOOL VALVE SEALS. A DAMAGE SPOOL VALVE SEAL MAY ALLOW HYDRAULIC FLUID TO FLOW TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT TURN PORT INSTEAD OF FLOWING TO THE RETURN PORT.

Serious09V357000

Steering:Rack And Pinion

SEPARATED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy & full details

DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 29, 2005 THROUGH JULY 3, 2009. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITION, THE LEFT HAND INNER TIE ROD END MAY LOOSEN OVER TIME AND IF NOT CORRECTED, POTENTIALLY SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING RACK.

Serious09V391000

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

IF A DIESEL FUEL LEAK CONTINUES UNDETECTED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS FUEL MAY IGNITE ON A HOT ENGINE SURFACE AND/OR FUEL MAY SPILL ON THE ROAD raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES AND DIRECT WARRANTY CUSTOMERS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 7, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 17, 2006 AND MARCH 31, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH EPA07 MODEL MBE4000 ENGINES BUILT WITH PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES. THE PLASTIC LINES MAY EXPERIENCE LEAKS DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKS CAUSED BY STRESS AND VIBRATION COMBINED WITH HIGH INTERNAL PRESSURE.

Complaint volume

8 this model-year 7 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
3Injuries
0Deaths

Across 8 complaints. Severity Index 1.50.

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

Engine And Engine Cooling…1 · 13%Engine And Engine Cooling…1 · 13%Air Bags · Frontal · Sens…1 · 13%Engine And Engine Cooling…1 · 13%Steering · Rack And Pinion1 · 13%Engine And Engine Cooling…1 · 13%Steering1 · 13%Suspension1 · 13%
  1. Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System — 1 reports
  2. Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe — 1 reports
  3. Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module — 1 reports
  4. Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control — 1 reports
  5. Steering:Rack And Pinion — 1 reports
  6. Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly — 1 reports
  7. Steering — 1 reports
  8. Suspension — 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 (5) · 1999 (7) · 2000 (6) · 2001 (4) · 2003 (2) · 2004 (3) · 2005 (2) · 2006 · 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.