2004 Freightliner Columbia
Only 13 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 13 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 38 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
Only 13 complaints on file for this model year -- too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
7 of 13 total reports mention: engine and engine cooling.
CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
OUR COMPANY HAS A FLEET OF 2004 FREIGHTLINERS COLUMBIA CABS SEMI-TRACTORS, WHILE I WAS IN OUR REPAIR SHOP THIS LAST WEEKEND, THEY HAD A TRUCK ISOLATED, BECAUSE A DRIVER HAD DIED IN IT. COD HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS POINT.
NHTSA ODI report, 20040412
2 of 13 total reports mention: power train.
2 of 13 total reports mention: engine and engine cooling.
INJURYShow complaint excerpts
CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKAGE INTO CAB FROM HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ON FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA TRUCKS WITH DETROIT EGR (EPA COMPLIANT) ENGINES ABOUT 2003 AND NEWER.
NHTSA ODI report, 20051107
1 of 13 total reports mentions: tires.
CRASH1 of 13 total reports mentions: engine and engine cooling.
INJURYShow complaint excerpts
CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKAGE INTO CAB FROM HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ON FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA TRUCKS WITH DETROIT EGR (EPA COMPLIANT) ENGINES ABOUT 2003 AND NEWER.
NHTSA ODI report, 20051107
SAFETY TIMELINE
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.
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-
Campaign 04V205000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE INTERAXLE DRIVELINE YOKES. THE BOLT HOLES LOCATED ON THE EARWORK OF THE MALE SHAFT YOKES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN OVERSIZED MINOR THREAD DIAMETER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT MALE SHAFT YOKES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 4, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Campaign 04V590000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SEATS BUILT BY GRA-MAG, THE SEAT PIVOT BOLTS CAN LOOSEN AND POSSIBLY FRACTURE OR DISLODGE, CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO FAIL TO PROVIDE FULL SUPPORT TO THE DRIVER'S BACK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Campaign 05V001000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN TRUCK AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH I-SHAFTS SUPPLIED BY ZF HEAVY DUTY STEERING, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FAILURE OF THE FORK/SHAFT CONNECTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ATTACH A TENSION COLLAR TO THE STEERING SHAFT TO SECURE THE CONNECTION TO THE YOKE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712
Campaign 05V408000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 3RD GENERATION CONMET ALUMINUM WHEELS, THE DRUM MOUNTING FLANGE ON THE CONMET TRUTURN BRAKE DRUM MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A TAPER FROM THE PILOT HOLE TO THE BARR
Remedy: AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND TESTING, FREIGHTLINER HAS REVISED THE POPULATION AND THE REMEDY (DECEMBER 22, 2005). THEREFORE, THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER
Campaign 05V285000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.
Remedy: CATERPILLAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH FREIGHTLINER, WILL BE CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CALL CATERPILLAR AT 309-675-6496, OR FREIGHTLINER AT 1
Campaign 06V030000 — check if this car was fixed
STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS
CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS, HEAVY TRUCKS, AND THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2002 AND JULY 3, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE CONTROL VALVES. THE PARKER
Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2008 TO FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, AND FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS OWNERS; TO THOMAS BUILT BUS OWN
Campaign 07V302000 — check if this car was fixed
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL
Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE CATERPILLAR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE
Campaign 09V366000 — check if this car was fixed
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
Remedy: 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 B
Campaign 11V478000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 17V810000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
2004 Freightliner Columbia — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (7 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for power train issues (2 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (2 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 04V205000 (power train) has been completed.
- Verify recall 04V590000 (power train) has been completed.
- Verify recall 05V001000 (seats) has been completed.
- Verify recall 05V408000 (steering) has been completed.
- Verify recall 05V285000 (wheels) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06V030000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
- Verify recall 07V302000 (service brakes, air) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09V366000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
- Verify recall 11V478000 (fuel system, diesel) has been completed.
- Verify recall 17V810000 (equipment) has been completed.
FAQ
Is the 2004 Freightliner Columbia reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Freightliner Columbia?
The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling:exhaust system, accounting for 54% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Freightliner Columbia have?
10 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.