2004 Freightliner Columbia problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System (7) · Power Train:clutch Assembly (2) · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe (2)
Safety recalls (2)
Equipment 2017-12-15 · campaign 17V810000 · 24,860 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado trucks and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900 and 6900 trucks. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach fr
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, or contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-759.
Fuel System, Diesel 2011-09-16 · campaign 11V478000 · 73,500 vehicles
Defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 11, 2003, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH EPA04 MODEL MBE4000 ENGINES BUILT WITH PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTERS MOUNTED NEAR THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE BETWEEN ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL FILTER AND ENGINE BLOCK MAY DEVELOP A SUBSTANTIAL DIESEL FUEL LEAK.
Risk: THIS COULD CREATE A ROAD HAZARD INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A STEEL LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS ON OCTOBER 28, 2011. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.
Service bulletins (36)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2021-02-19 · 04TS-43REV4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
revised technical service letter for series 60 and series 50 camshaft timing specifications. camshaft timing, valve lash, injector height, and jake brake lash are all very important specifications that must be followed closely in order to optimize the performance and service life of any detroit dies
Engine And Engine Cooling 2021-02-15 · TechTalk8141 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tech talk discussion on hard cold start.
Power Train 2020-12-23 · SB35-036 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
revised freightliner service bulletin for axle flange gasket replaced with o-ring. revision removed steps instructing removal and installation of wheels. daimler trucks north america has released a new axle shaft to hub rubber o-ring (part number 11-30728-000) as a replacement for the paper gasket
Equipment 2020-10-27 · SB54-278 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
updated freightliner service bulletin for powernet troubleshooting guide - batteries, path, alternator, and starter. this bulletin replaces the version dated 5/31/2017. information is added about the bct-460dtna powernet assessment tool. when troubleshooting powernet issues, use the bct-460dtna powe
Power Train 2020-10-07 · SB35-036 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
freightliner service bulletin for axle flange gasket replaced with o-ring. daimler trucks north america has released a new axle shaft to hub rubber o-ring (part number 11-30728-000) as a replacement for the paper gasket (part number 11-14418-000). the new o-ring will provide better sealing and is re
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2020-01-21 · 20TS-01 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service letter for ddc series 60 engines concerning series 60 cylinder head resurfacing/finish. detroit diesel does not recommend third party resurfacing of series 60 cylinder heads (outside of detroit and detroit reman).
Showing the 6 most recent of 36 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2008-10-07 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“personal friend/truck driver was driving 2004 freightliner columbia with mercedes engine on interstate highway. other motorist saw him driving erratically, and called police. dash camera records him weaving in the road and finally veering into oncoming lane, crashing into concrete barrier. impact with the wall causes fuel tank to separate from …”
2008-02-14 · Tires · 💥 crash“2004 freightliner columbia conventional tire blow out. consumer stated that when the tire blew out it caused the second trailer to hit a guardrail in two locations. *kb ohio traffic crash report # 10-0013-89. *jb…”
2007-08-28 · Electrical System:wiring · 🔥 fire“2004 freightliner columbia caught fire under the hood. *kb according to the report, the fire started due to a possible short in the wring. ohio traffic crash report *jb…”
2006-11-10 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System · 295,400 mi“i have a freightliner columbia with a mbe 4000 mercedes engine. this is the second time i had to put the truck in a shop for an exhaust leak. this time the exhaust manifold was leaking fumes into the cab and made me sick with carbon monoxide. took truck to penn detroit diesel in york haven,pa. they found that the exhaust manifold was off on port…”
2006-10-22 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System · 287,737 mi“have freightliner columbia with an mbe 4000 mercedes. had flex pipe that was cracked letting in co fumes. had this replaced but am still getting low levels of carbon monoxide in truck. it seams to be coming in through the air conditioning and heater vents. jfb. *nm…”
2006-06-11 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System · 300,000 mi“suspect carbon monoxide entering through vents making me ill having headaches ,eye infections and chest pains shortness of breath, fatigue blurred vision. checked levels of carbon monoxide up to 31, coming through air vents. *jb…”
2006-06-11 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System · 300,000 mi“having health issues, headaches, blurred vision, infection in eye, fatigue, hard breathing, chest pains, did test for carbon monoxide levels of 31,j ust sitting, no other vehicles around while testing. been ill for a long time. can taste the fumes coming in. these fumes coming through the air condition vents. mercedes engine. *jb…”
2005-11-07 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe · 150,000 mi“carbon monoxide leakage into cab from heater/air conditioning system on freightliner columbia trucks with detroit egr (epa compliant) engines about 2003 and newer. carbon monoxide resulted in elevated blood pressure, nausea, flu like symptoms, headaches, tiredness, etc.. truck has been worked on 5 times for this problem, numerous parts have been r…”
2005-09-07 · Power Train:clutch Assembly · 185,011 mi“clutch was hard to release, check and found clutch was coming apart. replace clutch,everything works fine now. *nm…”
2005-07-21 · Power Train:clutch Assembly · 206,407 mi“clutch explode going down the highway and locked truck in gear and fragments went thought the bell housing. could have hit other autos on hghway or could have sent fragment into cab of truck and injured or killed driver. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.