RecallRepo

2001 Freightliner Century Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2001 Freightliner Century has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 45,292 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SUSPENSION 03V112000 2003-03-21 5,716 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 WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 02V087000 2002-03-20 30,000 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A CAPACITOR IN THE POWER LINE CONTROL (PLC) FILTER COULD OVERHEAT AND/OR IGNITE WHEN SUBJECTED TO REVERSE POLARITY ELECTRICAL SPIKES.

Consequence

THIS COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE PLC FILTER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL DISCONNECT AND SECURE THE PLC FILTER GROUND WIRE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 2002. 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.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 02V018002 2002-01-22 5,176 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO PNEUMATIC ANITLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) VALVE PACKAGES, THE ASSEMBLY BOLTS ON THESE VALVE PACKAGES WERE NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY.

Consequence

BOLTS TORQUED BELOW SPECIFICATION WILL NOT RELIABLY PREVENT AIR LEAKAGE AT THE AFFECTED ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS ONCE THE COMPONENT BEGINS NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. IF AIR LEAKS DEVELOP AT ANY OF THE ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS, BRAKE SYSTEM PRESSURE REDUCTIONS COULD OCCUR DURING BRAKING OR NORMAL…

Remedy

DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE FASTENERS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 4, 2002. 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.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 01V189001 2001-06-14 4,400 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN HALDEX BRAKE SYSTEM TWO AND FOUR PORT RELAY VALVES. THE VALVE MAY STICK OPEN WHEN A HIGH-PRESSURE APPLICATION IS RELEASED.

Consequence

WHEN THE VALVE STICKS OPEN, IT CAN RESULT IN A TOTAL LOSS OF AIR FROM EITHER THE SERVICE OR THE PARK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DRIVER MAY LOSE BRAKING ABILITY UNDER A SERVICE APPLICATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE VALVES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 17, 2001. 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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1
1injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET
1
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET
1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
1
Total complaints4

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Got in this century , freightliner april of 2006, been experiencing headaches,burning eyes, tired all the time. Can smell fumes coming in through air vents. Wake up with headaches, a driver used a co reader today in my cab was getting ill. It seems this problem has been going on for a while, an…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE · reported 2006-12-12

“Bought 2 r287 bridgestone tires on may 11,2006 295/75 22.5 have put about 60,000 miles on the steer tires. The right front has strips of rubber coming off of it. Southern tire mart in longview, tx insist I pay full price for one r280 which is very unsafe and will not prorate or adjust either tire.…”

TIRES:TREAD/BELT · reported 2006-10-16

“Left front spring hanger is loose, bottom bolts turn by hand. Nlm”

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET · reported 2000-10-25

“Left front spring hanger is loose, bottom bolts turned by hand. Nlm”

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET · reported 2000-10-25

Defect investigations

Investigation PE02088 Opened 2002-11-22 · closed 2003-05-01

INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY

FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD…

Investigation PE02088 Opened 2002-11-22 · closed 2003-05-01

INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY

FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD…

Investigation PE02088 Opened 2002-11-22 · closed 2003-05-01

INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY

FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ON MARCH 21, 2003 IN WHICH THEY IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 5000 TRUCKS AS POSSIBLY BEINGAFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM.ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR) SUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT ONAPRIL 16, 2003, WHICH IDENTIFIES 6098 FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS ASBEING AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND 1191 AXLES SOLD…

Investigation PE03005 Opened 2003-02-07 · closed 2003-08-22

FRONT BRAKE AIR HOSE LEAKS

CERTAIN 1998-2001 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY AND COLUMBIA VEHICLES EXHIBIT A HIGHER RATE OF FRONT BRAKE AIR HOSE LEAKS THAN EARLIER VINTAGE FREIGHTLINER VEHICLES.THE LEAKS HAVE BEEN FREQUENTLY DISCOVERED AT FMCSA ROADSIDE INSPECTIONS SINCE THESE INSPECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED (PRESSURIZING THE AIR HOSE)…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Freightliner Century as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.