2005 Freightliner Columbia

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2005 Freightliner Columbia
RENDERED 2026-08-02T11:40:42.921Z

Not enough comparison years on file yet 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.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Freightliner Columbia Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2005 highlighted. 1997: 0 complaints 1997 1998: 0 complaints 1999: 0 complaints 2000: 1 complaints 2001: 3 complaints 2001 2002: 2 complaints 2003: 10 complaints 2004: 13 complaints 2005: 38 complaints 2005 2006: 14 complaints 2007: 11 complaints 2008: 1 complaints 2009: 2 complaints 2009 2010: 1 complaints 2011: 0 complaints 2012: 0 complaints 2013: 0 complaints 2013 2014: 0 complaints 2015: 0 complaints 2016: 0 complaints 2017: 0 complaints 2017 2018: 0 complaints 2019: 0 complaints 2020: 0 complaints 2021: 0 complaints 2021
2005: 38 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19970
19980
19990
20001
20013
20022
200310
200413
200538
200614
200711
20081
20092
20101
20110
20120
20130
20140
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 45%

45% of complaints: power train — 17 distinct reports on file.

POWER TRAIN 18%

18% of complaints: power train — 7 distinct reports on file.

WHEELS 5%

5% of complaints: wheels — 2 distinct reports on file.

TIRES 5%

5% of complaints: tires — 2 distinct reports on file.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5%

5% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 2 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20051021 — wheels

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ACCURIDE ALUMINUM WHEELS, THE WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY PRE-STRESSED. THIS ALLOWS CRACKS TO DEVELOP OVER TIME.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Campaign 05V185000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060411 — suspension

CERTAIN 2005 THOMAS BUILT FS-65 AND C-2 SCHOOL BUSES AND 2005 FREIGHTLINER ARGOSY, COLUMBIA, CENTURY ST, AND M2 BUSINESS CLASS TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 4 AND JULY 8, 2005. THE SPINDLES IN THE

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT FOR THE HEAT TREAT DATE CODE ON THE END OF THE REAR SPINDLES AND REPLACE THE AXLE HOUSING IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 2

Campaign 05V467000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060417 — engine and engine cooling

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

I 20060830 — PE (closed 20070130)

STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS

R 20061218 — electrical system

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE CAB POWER DISTRIBUTION MODEL (PDM) MAY BE MISSING OR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Campaign 06V190000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20070130 — EA (closed 20070712)

STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS

R 20070830 — steering

CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUSES AND TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 23, 2004, TO MARCH 21, 2006. DURING THE STEERING COLUMN MANUFACTURING PROCESS TWO WELDS MAY HAVE BEEN MISSING.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND INSPECT AND REPAIR THE AFFECTED VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Campaign 07V289000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20080111 — service brakes, air

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

R 20080501 — steering

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING, THE TIE ROD ARMS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED. THE THREADED END OF THE BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR INSTALLATION OF THE STEERING ARMS. STEERING COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED ON TRUCKS THAT HAVE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED TIE ROD ARMS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 1, 2008. OWNER MAY

Campaign 07V400000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20080708 — steering

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING, THE BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY AT THE INNER END OF THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD MAY BE DAMAGED IN A SHARP TURN. EXCESSIVE TIE ROD ANGLES MAY LOOSEN THE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE FRONT AXLE STEERING STOPS TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE IN THE TIE ROD BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY AND STEERING COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2008

Campaign 07V403000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20080709 — fuel system, diesel

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 62,000 MY 2005-2007 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS, CENTURY CLASS, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, FLD, CLASSIC, STERLING A-LINE, L-LINE, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS. A FRACTURED FUEL L

Remedy: HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND TRANSFER TUBES WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Campaign 08V113000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090505 — engine and engine cooling

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

I 20090831 — PE (closed 20091119)

RACK AND PINION FAILURE

R 20120221 — fuel system, diesel

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

R 20120706 — steering

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA, COLUMBIA, CENTURY, CORONADO, AND CLASSIC XL TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2004, THROUGH JUNE 15, 2010 FOR THE RAC

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER BEARING FOR CORROSION. IF CORROSION IS FOUND, THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO CORROSION IS FOUND, ON THE BEARING, THE BEARING WILL BE PACKED

Campaign 11V514000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180411 — equipment

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

I 20180423 — AQ (closed 20240711)

Daimler Trucks North America Recalls

R 20210625 — service brakes, air

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2004-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Cascadia, Columbia, Classic, FL80, FLD 120SD, Business Class M2, Western Star 4700, 4900, 6900, Sterling Acterra, L7500, LT7500, L8500, LT8500,...

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will add air reservoir capacity to the affected vehicles. Owner letters were mailed on November 29, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-815.

Campaign 19V370000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2005 Freightliner Columbia — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for power train issues (17 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (7 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for wheels issues (2 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 05V185000 (wheels) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 05V467000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06V030000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06V190000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V289000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V302000 (service brakes, air) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V400000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V403000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08V113000 (fuel system, diesel) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09V366000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V478000 (fuel system, diesel) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V514000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 17V810000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V370000 (service brakes, air) has been completed.

FAQ

Is the 2005 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 2005 Freightliner Columbia?

The most-reported component is power train:clutch assembly, accounting for 45% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2005 Freightliner Columbia have?

14 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.