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Detroit Diesel Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data

NHTSA safety recalls, owner-reported complaints and investigations, by model and model year · 1994–2006

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received. This total counts a complaint once for each Detroit Diesel model year it names.
2
Safety recallsDistinct NHTSA recall campaigns covering at least one Detroit Diesel model year. One campaign can cover several models and many model years; it is counted once here.
9
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Models coveredModels with at least one model year that has enough NHTSA data to publish.
6
12 model years

Overview

Our database holds 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints filed against Detroit Diesel vehicles. Our database also holds 9 safety recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations covering at least one Detroit Diesel model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Detroit Diesel models

Ordered by total owner-reported complaint volume, which is not a ranking of quality

Detroit Diesel models with published safety data
ModelModel yearsComplaintsRecalls
Detroit1994–199620
MBE40002001–200501
Series 401997–200402
Series 501998–200403
Series 50G2000–200501
Series 601999–200602

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Complaint totals count a report once for each model year it names; recall totals count a campaign once per model.

Recently issued recalls

The 8 newest campaigns covering a Detroit Diesel vehicle in our database

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E028000Series 50G

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINECERTAIN MY 2000-2005 DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50G ENGINES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 2, 2002, AND MARCH 22, 2005, EQUIPPED ON CERTAIN 2002-2004 ORION V AND 2002-2005 ORION VII TRANSIT BUSES. HIGHER THAN EXPECTED TEMPERATURES WILL ALLOW THE LOW PRESSURE NATURAL GAS REGULATOR GASKET TO LEAK COOLANT AND DRIP ONTO THE TERMINALS OF THE BATTERY CHARGING ALTERNATOR.

06E019000Series 60

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESELCERTAIN MY 2000 THROUGH 2005 DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 60 ENGINES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2000, AND MARCH 3, 2006, INSTALLED ON CERTAIN HIGHWAY COACH AND MOTOR HOME VEHICLES. THE TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSORS INSTALLED IN THESE MOTORHOMES CAN FAIL.

06E017000MBE4000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESELCERTAIN DETROIT DIESEL EGR MBE4000 ENGINES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2001 AND 2005, EQUIPPED IN FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR TRUCKS. THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE CAN CRACK OR RUB THROUGH RESULTING IN FUEL ON THE HIGHWAY SURFACE CREATING SKID HAZARD.

05E050000Series 50

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCERTAIN DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50 ENGINES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 3, 2002, AND OCTOBER 10, 2004, FOR USE IN TRANSIT BUSES. DURING INSTALLATION, THE EMC WAS NOT CALIBRATED TO ACTIVATE THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OF THE BUS IN THE EVENT OF A TURBOCHARGER FAILURE.

05E049000Series 40

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERDETROIT DIESEL SERIES 40 ENGINES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT. THE TURBOCHARGER CAN FAIL ALLOWING LUBRICATING OIL TO SPILL ONTO THE ENGINE.

04E051000Series 40

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERDETROIT DIESEL SERIES 40 TURBOCHARGERS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 1997 THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2002. THE TURBOCHARGER CAN FAIL, ALLOWING LUBRICATING OIL TO SPILL ONTO THE ENGINE.

04E052000Series 50

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERDETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50 ENGINE TURBOCHARGERS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 1998, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1999. THE TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSOR WHEEL CAN BREAK, RESULTING IN SHAFT IMBALANCE AND LUBRICATING OIL PASSING INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

03E040000Series 60

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESELON CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER FLD, CENTURY, COLUMBIA, AND ARGOSY TRUCK EQUIPPED WITH SERIES 60 ENGINES, A PRESSURIZED FUEL LINE ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE OF THE ENGINE CONNECTED TO THE REAR OF THE CYLINDERHEAD CAN RUB AGAINST THE CYLINDER BLOCK, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A DIESEL FUEL LEAK.

Browse by model year

Every year with at least one publishable Detroit Diesel model year

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .