2008 Freightliner Cascadia

On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a recall query, RQ20001, to investigate the allegations of water intrusion into the truck cab signal-detect and activation module (SAM cab).The investigation further evaluated the effectiveness of the original recall remedy, and the installation of an updated drip shield as it relates to continual water intrusion resulting in the loss of electrical functions and potential fire.The potential hazard was the increased risk of a crash and injury in certain model year (MY) 2007-2021 Freightliner Cascadia P3 vehicles manufactured by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). ODI sent DTNA an information request (IR) letter on September 29, 2020.DTNA's November 20, 2020, IR response detailed how the company had implemented various improvements through recall 09V024 and multiple technical service bulletins (TSBs) to mitigate water intrusion.The effectiveness of new windshield seals and revisions to the drip shield is evident by the downward trend in claims rate from an average high of 7.64% in the beginning product life of Cascadia P3 (MYs 2007-2009), to 1.79% average for MYs 2011-2018, and down to 0.49% towards the end of the Cascadia P3 production.Moreover, the data shows that most failures occurred within the first three years of service with a significant downward trend thereafter. In view of the current overall low failure rate, the nature of early-life failure, and failure rate trending downward since model year 2017, this Recall Query (RQ) is closed.  The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On April 23, 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) opened Audit Query (AQ18002) to assess the timeliness and scope of four recalls filed by Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (“DTNA”). NHTSA subsequently expanded AQ18002 to examine the timeliness and scope of three additional DTNA recalls and compliance with early warning reporting and manufacturer communications reporting requirements. NHTSA and DTNA entered into a Consent Order on December 29, 2020, to resolve NHTSA’s assertions that certain recalls within the scope of AQ18002 were untimely, DTNA failed to timely submit certain manufacturer communications to NHTSA, and DTNA failed to submit field reports to NHTSA as required. As part of the Consent Order, DTNA agreed to a total civil penalty of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000), of which ten million dollars ($10,000,000) was paid on January 12, 2021. Also, of that total civil penalty, DTNA agreed to spend five million dollars ($5,000,000) on the specific performance obligations to develop advanced data analytics capabilities to enhance its ability to detect and study emerging safety-related defect trends on its vehicles (“Safety Data Analytics infrastructure”) and an advanced data analytics and reporting platform that integrates data on emerging safety-related defect trends on its vehicles and recall lessons learned (“Safety Communications Platform”). The Consent Order also held fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) of the civil penalty in abeyance pending DTNA’s satisfactory completion of the requirements of the Consent Order, and its compliance with the Safety Act, and regulations thereunder. NHTSA and DTNA agreed to a two-year term for the Consent Order—with an option for NHTSA to extend the Consent Order for an additional year, if warranted. In the Consent Order, DTNA agreed to numerous performance obligations, including monthly meetings with NHTSA to discuss potential safety issues, recent manufacturer communications, and recall decision-making, among other things; quarterly meetings with NHTSA to discuss DTNA’s progress on the performance obligations under the Consent Order, including the Safety Data Analytics infrastructure and Safety Communications Platform, and any issues related to compliance with the Consent Order, Safety Act, or regulations; development of written procedures and employee training materials to help DTNA comply with its legal obligations to timely identify and report safety defects and noncompliances, submit complete and accurate recall filings, and timely submit manufacturer communications and field reports to NHTSA; and identifying and reporting previously unreported manufacturer communications and field reports. Also, via the Consent Order, DTNA acknowledged that the failure or inability to identify a specific root cause, develop an adequate remedy or repair, or confirm the affected population of vehicles are not bases for delaying filing a recall with NHTSA. On December 22, 2022, NHTSA extended the Consent Order for a term of one year due to concerns about DTNA’s compliance with its recall-related obligations. Specifically, NHTSA expressed concerns about the completeness of DTNA’s recall reports and issues identified with owner notification letters during the term of the Consent Order, as well as the length of time that DTNA took to consider a straightforward noncompliance issue before filing a recall and DTNA’s interactions with NHTSA during the term of the Consent Order. NHTSA addressed these concerns with DTNA during the third year of the Consent Order. The extended term of the Consent Order expired on December 28, 2023. Based on the Consent Order, this investigation, AQ18002, is closed. Closure of this AQ has no bearing on the terms of the Consent Order or DTNA’s ongoing legal obligations, and it does not represent a determination by NHTSA as to DTNA’s performance under the Consent Order.

A CONSUMER COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE AGENCY ON AUGUST 22, 2009, BY AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR LEASING A 2009 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA.THE COMPLAINT ALLEGES THAT IN APRIL OF 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES HE EXPERIENCED A SEAL RUPTURE IN THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY.A NEW SEAL WAS INSTALLED AND AT 56,000 MILES HE FOUND HIS RIGHT STEER TIRE COMPLETELY BALD.THE REPAIR SHOP IDENTIFIED AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE RAPID WEAR OF THE TIRE.ODI HAS IDENTIFIED EWR FIELD REPORTS RELATED TO FAILED RACK AND PINIONS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE REPORTS IDENTIFY EITHER AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY THAT RESULTED IN CRASHES OR A LOOSENESS OF THE INNER TIE ROD END OF THE RACK AND PINION RESULTING IN A POOR ALIGNMENT AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR.INFORMATION RECEIVED DURING THIS INVESTIGATION FROM FREIGHTLINER DETAILED FAILURES OF THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLIES ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE FAILURES WERE THE RESULT OF THE LEFT HAND INNER TIE ROD END BECOMING LOOSE OVER TIME.WHEN THE TIE ROD BECOMES LOOSE, IT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY AND MAKE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER.FRIEGHTLINER HAS CONCLUDED THAT A DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY DOES EXIST ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND HAS INITIATED A SAFETY RECALL (09V-357) THAT WILL REMEDY ALL OF THEM.THIS RECALL INVOLVES REMOVING THE TIE ROD AND ADDING A COMPOUND TO IT THAT WILL PREVENT THE TIE ROD FROM COMING LOOSE OVER TIME.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.FREIGHTLINER'S ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION AND, THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, OIL LEAKED FROM THE RACK AND PINION. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V514000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 784,969.

NHTSA ID

11388312

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

784,969 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V592000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 720,000.

NHTSA ID

10852524

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

720,000 mi

THE LEFT TIE ROD END SEPARATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702519

Incident

Mar 6, 2015

Mileage

598,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V514000 (STEERING) AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 666,640.

NHTSA ID

10561814

Incident

Jan 24, 2014

Mileage

666,640 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE RACK PINION INNER TIE ROD WAS SEPARATED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V357000 RECALL (STEERING: RACK AND PINION), AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,080 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,060.

NHTSA ID

10421573

Incident

Aug 19, 2011

Mileage

42,080 mi

I HAD MADE AN OBSERVATION THAT THE RS STEER TIRE WAS WEARING VERY FAST AND WORE A NEW TIRE DOWN TO THE WEAR BARS IN 2 MONTHS. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO A FREIGHTLINER FACILITY FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE RACK IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING MECHANISMS WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO NOT MAKE THIS PART ANY LONGER AND HAVE NO SERVICE PARTS. THERE IS NO REMEDY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS PART WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL TO THE POINT WHERE IT BECOMES UNSAFE. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT I AM SURE THAT IF IT WEARS A TIRE DOWN IN 2 MONTHS THEN IT IS NOT SETUP PROPERLY AND SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT AT THE CURRENT TIME IT IS SAFE. I WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE RS STEER TIRE AND HAVE IT INSPECTED REGULARLY UNTIL EITHER FREIGHTLINER COMES UP WITH A RESOLUTION OR THAT THE NHTSA LOOKS INTO THIS PROBLEM AND DETERMINES IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A RECALL THAT WILL FORCE FREIGHTLINER TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10374869

Incident

Dec 26, 2010

Mileage

457,939 mi

IN NOVEMBER OF 2008 WE SEEN OUR FIRST RACK AND PINION FAILURE. WE SEEN PREMATURE STEER TIRE WEAR ON THE RIGHTSIDE. CONTACTED FREIGHTLINER AND INSTALLED NEW RACKS AND THAT DIDN'T REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ON THE OTHER 18 WE INCURRED THE SAME PROBLEM SOME WORSE THE OTHERS. BY JULY WE COMPILED A AVERAGE OF STEER TIRE WEAR ON THE CASCADIA WAS 8,000 MILES TO THE BEST BEING 98,000. AT THIS POINT WE ARE WAITING FOR MORE ANSWERS TO OUR PROBLEM. WE HAVE THE NEW RECALL INFORMATION ,BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE CURE OF THE RACK AND PINION YET. TODAY WE ARE CHECKING EACH UNIT EACH TIME THEY COME BACK AND IF THERE IS A LOOSE RACK WHEN STEERS ARE STRAIGHT FORWARD THEN THEY MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286085

Incident

Nov 9, 2008

Mileage

8,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V024000. HOWEVER, THE SAME CHASSIS ARE STILL RECEIVING WATER INSIDE THEM FROM THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER BOARD. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IT CAN SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ID

10270235

Incident

Feb 27, 2009

Mileage

4,000 mi

Revised Freightliner Service Bulletin for ParkSmart Eberspaecher Auxiliary Heater Service. This bulletin replaces the version dated May 2015. The note in General Information has been revised to include New Cascadia. Espar information has been changed to reflect a company name change to Eberspaecher.

End of Production for the Freightliner P3 Cascadia Sales Cabs. Due to low production volumes, DTNA will be discontinuing the production of the Freightliner Cascadia P3 Sales Cabs.

Warranty Information letter announcing that DTNA is increasing the Standard Diagnostic Times (SDTs) shown. The updated after treatment system (ATS) diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) pump times will be applied to repair orders opened on or after April 12, 2021.

Warranty Information Letter announcing DTNA is adjusting the Standard Repair Times (SRTs) shown. The updated times will be applied to repair orders opened on or after April 5, 2021.

Warranty Information Letter for Detroit New Service Replacement Engine SRT Update. While validating Standard Repair Times (SRTs) for Detroit's new Gen 5 engine series, DTNA discovered an error in a pre-Gen 5 SRT for the New Service Replacement Engine Program. As a result, DTNA re-studied the SRT and concluded that time for removing/re-installing multiple components (e.g., exhaust manifold/turbo, engine sensor harness, rocker arm assemblies, etc.) should not be included.

Revised Freightliner Service Bulletin for Axle Flange Gasket Replaced with O-Ring. Revision removed steps instructing removal and installation of wheels. Daimler Trucks North America has released a new axle shaft to hub rubber O-ring (part number 11-30728-000) as a replacement for the paper gasket (part number 11-14418-000). The new O-ring will provide better sealing and is reusable. It is quicker and easier to use compared to the paper gasket, because using a paper gasket requires cleaning the hub when the axle shaft is removed.