2010 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.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received Early Warning Reporting (EWR) data from the manufacturer that indicated some number of subject vehicles had allegedly experienced a fracture of one or more support brackets resulting in an unsecured air brake reservoir.This could result in a loss of air pressure necessary for proper service brake application and a potential road hazard if the reservoir separates from the vehicle in operation.By letter dated August 15, 2012, Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) has notified ODI that it has initiated a safety recall (identified by NTHSA Recall No. 12V-405 and DTNA Recall No. FL-631) to address a safety defect in approximately 1,663 model year (MY) 2009 through 2012 Freightliner 114SD, Business Class M2, Cascadia, Coronado, Sterling 9500 and Western Star 4700 trucks manufactured from July 7, 2008 through December 15, 2011, originally equipped with a specific perpendicular oriented air brake reservoir support bracket (P/N 12-22981-000).To date ODI is unaware of any bracket failures that resulted in a complete separation of the reservoir from the vehicle.Affected owners will be notified by DTNA beginning October 15, 2012 and affected vehicles will have the subject air brake reservoir support brackets replaced with a more robust bracket.Repairs will be performed by DTNA authorized service facilities.Copies of DTNA's reimbursement plan for pre-notification remedies will be submitted to ODI as a supplemental report when available.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

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.

ON 06/26/2018 I WAS DRIVING IN CHICAGO ON SOUTH WESTERN AVE IT WAS RAININIG THAT NIGHT I PULLED OVER BECAUSE MY 2012 CASCADIA WAS ASKING FOR A REGEN OF THE DEF SYSTEM .. I PULLED OVER IN A SAFE AREA AND STARTED THE REGEN PROCESS. ABOUT 10 MIN IN TO THE REGEN PROCESS ON THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE DASH AREA HEAVY SMOKE AND THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRE WAS NOTICED A FIRE BROKE OUT AT THE FUSE BOX LOCATED ON THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE IT WAS DETERMINED BY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THESE 2012 CASCADIAS ARE KNOWN FOR LEAKS IN THE CAB AREA CAUSING THE MOISTURE OR WATER TO LEAK IN AND INTERACT OR MAKE CONTACT WITH FUSE BOX AREA CAUSING A FIRE ...

NHTSA ID

11104628

Incident

Jun 26, 2018

Mileage

700,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNABLE TO BE TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE BY THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A FREIGHTLINER DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000,000.

NHTSA ID

11084800

Incident

Apr 9, 2018

Mileage

1,000,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR AND INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT WATER PENETRATED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE SAMCAP MODULE TO FAIL. THE MODULE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,081.

NHTSA ID

10904288

Incident

Sep 4, 2016

Mileage

4,081 mi

DPF SYSTEM FRECUENTY REGENERATION ( EVERY DAY AND TAKE 2 HOURS TO CLEAR)AND OIL PUMP PROBLEMS WHEN STOP AT RED LIGHTS ALSO BAD STEER PLOBLEMS BAD KING PINTS

NHTSA ID

10811608

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT AWAY, BUT AFTER DRIVING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES THE WARNING LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SIGNAL DETECTION AND ACTIVATION MODULE HAD MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO WATER GETTING INTO CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V127000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600,000.

NHTSA ID

10748067

Incident

Aug 6, 2015

Mileage

600,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE STABILITY CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, FUEL AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600,000.

NHTSA ID

10747557

Incident

May 26, 2015

Mileage

600,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FREIGHLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 438,000.

NHTSA ID

10496862

Incident

Feb 7, 2013

Mileage

438,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FREIGHTLINER CL125. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, WHEN THE TRUCK SUDDENLY ROLLED OVER WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE DRIVER PASSED AWAY DUE TO THE CRASH. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE TRUCK AND STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE FRACTURED RACK AND PINION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXMATELY 180,000. ...UPDATE 01/20/12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10439180

Incident

Nov 13, 2011

Mileage

180,000 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.

Revised Freightliner Service Bulletin for Hood-Mounted Splash Shield Rivet Replacement. Minor note: added an update of document previously submitted. The related VMRS codes are added

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.

Freightliner Service Bulletin for Programming Chassis Electronic Control Units (ECUs) With DiagnosticLink.