2003 Freightliner CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
106,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Tires:Sidewall: 1; Tires:Tread/Belt: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10063577 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE JANUARY 2004 CONSUMER WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *AK *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146439 · 2005-12-22 (December 22, 2005)
2003 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *TS *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10146439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212530 · 2007-12-21 (December 21, 2007)
7 MONTH OLD STEER TIRE ON FREIGHTLINER TRUCK. TRAVELING AROUND 65 MPH VIBRATION STARTED AND BEFORE WE COULD FIGURE OUT FROM WHERE OR GET TO A SAFE SECTION OF THE ROAD, ALL THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. ALL THE TREAD AND SEVERAL FAIRLY LARGE PARTS FROM THE TRUCK FLEW OFF. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE WAY. THIS WAS A FIRESTONE FS 507 295/75 R 22.5 DOT WI BT 3PT 1207. THE TIRE STILL HAD 99 LBS OF AIR. I HAD TO PURCHASE A TIRE AND 1100.00 IN PARTS TO SAFELY OPERATE TRUCK. WE CANT GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM FIRESTONE OR THE TA. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10212530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11656059 · 2025-04-22 (April 22, 2025)
The contact owns a 2003 Freightliner Century CST120 equipped with Yokohama Tires, Tire Line: TY517MC2, Tire Size: 295/75/R22, DOT Number: N/A. The contact stated that the tires had cracked on the sidewalls. The contact called a tire center which scheduled an appointment. The tires were not yet inspected. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle failure mileage was 200,000. The tire failure mileage was unknown.
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11656059 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V500000 · Service Brakes, Air
Reported: 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AIR BRAKES, THE PLASTIC PUSH-TO-CONNECT AIR LINE FITTING CARTRIDGE COULD BE IMPROPERLY WELDED INTO THE NYLON JUNCTION BLOCK HOUSING ALLOWING AN AIR LINE TO BECOME DISCONNECTED.
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED BRAKE CONTROL, LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKE CONTROL, OR THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW CAB AIR MANIFOLD. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 21, 2004. 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 800-547-0712.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V205000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 2004-05-04 (May 4, 2004)
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE TAPERED JOINT THAT ATTACHES THE SHIFTER TO THE TRANSMISSION MAY BECOME LOOSE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR.
Consequence: IF SHIFT LEVER DETACHMENT OCCURS, THA ABILITY RO ACCELERATE OT MAINTAIN SPEED WILL BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-SECURE THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE TRANSMISSION USING THREADLOCK AND RE-TORQUING THE FASTENING BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA campaign record ↗