Model year record

1996 FREIGHTLINER Century

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. No owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V326000

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages

Component
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
6,720
Reported to NHTSA
1998-12-21
Owners notified
1999-04-20

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONNECTING LINKAGE SOCKETS CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT GREASING DURING ASSEMBLY.

Safety risk

THIS CAN LEAD TO A SEPARATION OF THE LINKAGE AND LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTING LINKAGES WITH NEW LINKS THAT ARE PROPERLY LUBRICATED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V085000

Suspension: front

Component
Suspension: front
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
22,186
Reported to NHTSA
1998-04-21
Owners notified
1998-07-13

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF THIS PROBLEM GOES UNDETECTED, THE INTERAXLE DRIVELINE CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

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

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V112000

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar

Component
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
11,366
Reported to NHTSA
1997-07-16
Owners notified
1997-07-30

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. LEAKS THROUGH THE FIREWALL OR STEERING SHAFT BOOTS ALLOWS WATER TO RUN DOWN THE STEERING SHAFT. THE STEERING SHAFT SLIP SPLINE CORRODES CAUSING IT TO SEIZE.

Safety risk

INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT WITH A NEW DESIGN THAT IS INSTALLED IN AN INVERTED ORIENTATION SO NO WATER CAN ENTER THE SPLINES.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V006000

Seat belts: front: anchorage

Component
Seat belts: front: anchorage
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
121
Reported to NHTSA
1997-01-21
Owners notified
1997-04-12

Defect description

DUE TO UNDERSIZED RIVETS AND OVERSIZED HOLES, THE B-PILLAR ANCHORAGE WILL NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGE MAY NOT HOLD AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V233003

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
1,410
Reported to NHTSA
1996-11-20
Owners notified
1996-12-18

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EATON DRIVE AXLES AND AXILOK SPINDLE NUTS. THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.

Safety risk

THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THIS TAB IS DEFORMED, THE NUT CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V197000

Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system

Component
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
3,800
Reported to NHTSA
1996-10-08
Owners notified
1996-10-11

Defect description

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR IN THE AUXILLIARY HEATER/AIRCONDITIONING BLOWER IF EXPOSED TO WATER.

Safety risk

THE SHORTED RELAY CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE RELAY WITH ONE THAT RESISTS SHORTING IF CONTACTED BY WATER AND DOES NOT SUPPORT COMBUSTION EVEN IF SHORTED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V181001

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
258
Reported to NHTSA
1996-09-24
Owners notified
1996-09-23

Defect description

THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A DETROIT DIESEL OPTIMIZED IDLE SYSTEM. IF THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON AND THE FUSE FOR THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) POWER FEED LINE IS REMOVED OR BURNED OUT, THE SAFETY FEATURES DESIGNED TO PREVENT INJURY TO PERSONS WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE WILL BE BYPASSED, AND UNINTENTIONAL CRANKING OF THE ENGINE WILL OCCUR.

Safety risk

IF UNINTENTIONAL CRANKING OF THE ENGINE OCCURS, PERSONS WORKING IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE COULD BE INJURED AND THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE.

Manufacturer remedy

DETROIT DIESEL DISTRIBUTORS WILL REWIRE THE VEHICLES USING A REVISED ECM WHICH WILL ELIMINATE UNINTENTIONAL CRANKING.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

No complaints recorded for this model year.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.