RoadVitals

2016 Freightliner Business Class M2

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
1
Latest Aug 29, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
16
Latest Dec 11, 2024
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.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2016 Freightliner Business Class M2, most frequently naming the brakes category. 16 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 724 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

16 campaigns cover this model year

View all 16

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
24V924000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM):SOFTWARE

Dec 11, 2024
139 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Freightliner Business Class M2 emergency vehicles equipped with certain Cummins diesel engines. The engine protection and inducement software may cause the engine to shut down unexpectedly.
The risk: An unexpected engine shutdown can delay emergency responders and increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: Cummins will update the electronic control module software and install a corrected data plate, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2025. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1012.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number F1012View on NHTSA.gov
21V067000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

Feb 11, 2021
15,835 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Freightliner Business Class M2 vehicles. The retaining clip that connects the transmission oil cooler line to the in-tank oil cooler may fail, possibly resulting in a transmission fluid leak.
The risk: If a rapid loss of transmission fluid occurs while driving, it could result in a road hazard for other motorists, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the retaining clip with a collar and clamp connection, free of charge. The recall began on April 9, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-874.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number FL-874View on NHTSA.gov
20V214000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Apr 14, 2020
63,175 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2006-2020 Freightliner Columbia, 2006-2021 Freightliner Business Class M2, 2007-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2014-2021 Freightliner 122 SD, 2007 Sterling A 9500, 2006 Freightliner Argosy, 2006-2007 Sterling AT9500, 2008-2021 Freightliner Cascadia, 2006-2008 Freightliner Classic, 2006-2011 Freightliner Century Class, 2006-2010 Freightliner FLD, and 2017 Western Star 5700 vehicles. The rear reflective tape may be partially covered by the mudflap hanger bracket, which may reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers on the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: The vehicle's rearward visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reposition the reflective tape to ensure that it is completely visible, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL848.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL848View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Aug 29, 2017

ROLL PIN WHICH SECURES PARK BRAKE KNOB ROUTINELY WORKS IT WAY OUT OF THE KNOB AND PREVENTS (DEPENDING ON WHAT POSITION VALVE IS IN) EITHER APPLICATION OR RELEASE OF PARKING BRAKE. OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND USING PARKING BRAKE.

NHTSA ID
11020287
Incident
Aug 28, 2017
Mileage
28,745 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SS 3146-FTL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Service Solution for M2, 108SD, 114SD - Unable to Program Replacement Bulkhead Module - Certain Model Years

SS 3124-FTL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Service Solution for Legacy M2 Bulkhead Module (BHM) Replacement and DiagnosticLink Issues

SF671-Bulletin

Revised Field Service Campaign for Beverage Body Frame Rail 50 KSI

SF671-DLR LTR

Revised Field Service Campaign for Beverage Body Frame Rail 50 KSI

SS3124-FTL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Service Solution for Legacy M2 Bulkhead Module (BHM) Replacement and Diagnosticlink Issue

CXA 3_25_NOx

ENGINE

CX Advocate for NOx conversion low faults

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Freightliner Business Class M2 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2026050—
20251110—
2024070—
2023170—
2022190—
20212140—
20208120—
20190230—
20180160—
20171150—
2016Viewing1160—
20154140—
20140102—
20130111—
20124121—
2011083—
20100102—
2009282—
20081141—
20074173—
20068132—
2005792—
20048101—
2003151—
2002051—
2001020—
2000010—
1999000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.