RoadVitals

2020 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.
8
Latest May 3, 2024
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.
12
Latest Nov 4, 2025
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 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Freightliner Business Class M2. 12 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 254 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.

Safety recalls

12 campaigns cover this model year

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

SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Nov 4, 2025
18,783 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Western Star 49X, Freightliner Business Class M2, Freightliner 114SD, Freightliner 108SD, 2021-2026 Western Star 47X, 2021-2023 Freightliner 122SD, 2022 Western Star 48X, and 2023 Western Star 4700 vehicles. The axle clamp fasteners may be loose, which can result in a loss of vehicle control.
The risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the fasteners, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2025. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1027.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number F1027View on NHTSA.gov

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

TIRES; WHEELS:RIM

Dec 12, 2022
49 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Freightliner 114SD, 2023 Freightliner 122SD, 2020 Western Star 4700, 2019-2022 Western Star 4900, 2019-2023 Freightliner Business Class M2, and 2021 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with tires that are not compatible with their 8.25-inch rims. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."
The risk: Driving with tires that are not compatible with their rims can reduce tire performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-962.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number FL-962View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Filed May 3, 2024

The DEF header failed on this truck and it causes the vehicle to be disabled. The DEF header is an emissions part. PART NUMBER 04-31354-004 HEADER-SSI,CONC,6 BOLT,CMNS

NHTSA ID
11586806
Incident
Jul 19, 2023
Filed May 3, 2024

The DEF header failed on this truck and it causes the vehicle to be disabled. The DEF header is an emissions part. PART NUMBER 04-31354-004 HEADER-SSI,CONC,6 BOLT,CMNS

NHTSA ID
11586793
Incident
Jun 21, 2023
Filed May 3, 2024

The DEF header failed on this truck and it causes the vehicle to be disabled. The DEF header is an emissions part. PART NUMBER 04-31354-004 HEADER-SSI,CONC,6 BOLT,CMNS

NHTSA ID
11586786
Incident
Jun 19, 2023
Filed May 3, 2024

The DEF header failed on this truck and it causes the vehicle to be disabled. The DEF header is an emissions part. PART NUMBER 04-31354-004 HEADER-SSI,CONC,6 BOLT,CMNS

NHTSA ID
11586782
Incident
May 22, 2023
Filed May 3, 2024

The DEF header failed on this truck and it causes the vehicle to be disabled. The DEF header is an emissions part. PART NUMBER 04-31354-004 HEADER-SSI,CONC,6 BOLT,CMNS

NHTSA ID
11586768
Incident
Jul 19, 2023
Filed May 3, 2024

The DEF header failed on this truck and it causes the vehicle to be disabled. The DEF header is an emissions part. PART NUMBER 04-31354-004 HEADER-SSI,CONC,6 BOLT,CMNS

NHTSA ID
11586760
Incident
Jun 21, 2023
Filed May 3, 2024

The DEF header failed on this truck and it causes the vehicle to be disabled. The DEF header is an emissions part. PART NUMBER 04-31354-004 HEADER-SSI,CONC,6 BOLT,CMNS

NHTSA ID
11586758
Incident
Jun 19, 2023
Filed Jul 5, 2022

Attached to this is the federal certification label for an Ultra Liner 45 built on the Freightliner chassis. Executive Coach Builders is building this bus, National Bus Sales is selling this bus to schools in Oklahoma and Texas. The states have allowed that, but as an OEM that goes against what is currently allowed.

NHTSA ID
11472393
Incident
Jul 1, 2022

Manufacturer communications

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

TSB-54-384-FTL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Technical Service Bulletin for Grote OEM and Alliance Aftermarket Headlamp Replacement

SS 583814

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Service Solution for A22-82459-000 Wiper Motor Wiring Connector Pinned Wrong (305)

SS 3124-FTL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

MyCom_02062026-1

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My Communications for update on UFU R61709 Fuel Filters

FleetCom_Heater Core

ENGINE

Fleet Communications for Heater Core Plugging

FleetCom_Oil Plug Loc

POWER TRAIN

Fleet Communications for NFD Lower Oil Plug Location - SP Axles

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
2020Viewing8120
20190230
20180160
20171150
20161160
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.