2015 Freightliner Cascadia Owner Complaints

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11663961

Incident

Mar 3, 2025

Hello I am reaching out to you today to discuss a common issue with 2015 Freightliner cascadia the acu harness is located on the frame of the chassis and is grounding out wires to the mcm causing the truck to shut off in the middle of the road, highway or interstate, when the issue starts it doesn’t give you time to get off the highway to a safe place. I have personally reached out to several dealers and they are aware of this common issue spn 1231 fmi 9. Also I have called Freightliner about this issue and they are aware but haven’t yet taking action. I wouldn’t be writing you this if I didn’t experience this for a second time in a row, just yesterday I was towed off the interstate the Middle of an interstate. I will leave my contact information just incase you need more details thank you for your time. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11565071

Incident

Jan 11, 2024

2015 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. CONSTITUENT STATED THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ISSUES WITH TRUCK, SPECIFICALLY AN ONGOING ELECTRICAL ISSUE BASED UPON A LEAK GETTING INTO VEHICLE DAMAGING ELECTRICAL LINES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED FUEL LEAKS FROM THE TOP OF BOTH TANKS, ISSUES WITH E-COAST SYSTEM, REFRIGERATOR RATTLES, UTILITY REAR LIGHT ISSUES, TRANSMISSION LOW AIR ISSUES, COOLANT RESERVOIR, FUEL GAUGE, OIL LEAKING, BRAKING ISSUES, CLIMATE CONTROL ISSUES, FRONT GRILL, CIGARETTE LIGHTER ISSUES, AND HOOD SUPPORT ISSUES. *JS

NHTSA ID

11373290

Incident

Nov 14, 2014

WHEN THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED THE ODOMETER SAID IT HAD ABOUT 28K MILES ON IT FOR $45K. WELL FOR THE LAST 45 DAYS I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUE AFTER ISSUE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS SMOKING SO BAD I COULD NOT DRIVE IT ANY LONGER. SO I CALL THE DEALER TO ADVISE THEM THAT TOO MANY ISSUES WERE HAPPENING AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. TOOK IT TO FREIGHT LINER DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ODOMETER ON THE MOTOR WAS 293,662 NOT THE 28K IT WAS SOLD UNDER. NOW THE TRUCKS MOTOR HAS TO BE OVERHAULED WHICH IS $41K ACCORDING TO FREIGHT LINER. WE HAVE THE PAPERWORK OF EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO I ADVISED THE DEALERSHIP OF THIS INFORMATION ABOUT THE MILES AND THEY WANT ME TO GET ANOTHER LOAN ON TOP OF THE LOAN I ALREADY HAVE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO IN ORDER TO GET THIS RESOLVED. THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. I HAVE

NHTSA ID

11318785

Incident

Mar 19, 2020

MY DRIVER FRONT TIRE KEEPS LOCKING UP. I TOOK A PEICE OF CHALK AND DRAW ON THE TIRE TO TEST THE BRAKES 2015 FRIEGHTLINER CASCADE

NHTSA ID

11190964

Incident

Mar 13, 2019

VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH STEERING, IT VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO HAS A SWAY TO IT. UNSTAIBLE.

NHTSA ID

10991640

Incident

Apr 29, 2017

Mileage

321,000 mi

WE HAVE HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED APPROX 7 TIMES AND THE WINDSHIELD CONTINUES TO LEAK. WE ALSO HAD THE ENTIRE GASKET REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD STILL LEAKS. A WEEK AGO IT POURED DOWN RAIN RESULTING IN THE CITY HORN TO GO OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN RUNNING AT FULL SPEED EVEN THO THE SELECTOR WAS SET TO OFF. THEN THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID MOTOR BEGAN RUNNING NON STOP. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO SPRINGFIELD FREIGHTLINER IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI. AFTER INSPECTION THE "SAM CAB" WAS CORRODED DUE TO WATER AND THE SAM CAB HAD WATER IN IT. THERE WAS A RECALL ON PREVIOUS CASCADIA'S FOR THIS EXACT REASON.

NHTSA ID

10983117

Incident

Apr 22, 2017

Mileage

433,991 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED A FUEL LEAKAGE AND FUEL FUMES TO EMIT INTO THE VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNHOOK THE TRAILER, FUEL SPLASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S MOUTH, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AND SUSTAIN SEVERAL INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RESENDING FUEL LINE WAS NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,800.

NHTSA ID

10980296

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

5,800 mi

WIPER RESERVOIR BECOMES HEATED DUE TO DPF SYSTEM WHICH CREATES PRESSURE WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AS A RESULT IT FORCES WIPER FLUID FROM THE NOZZLES DRAINING THE SYSTEM MOST TIMES UNDETECTED. RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO CLEAN THE WINDOW WHEN IT BECOMES FOULED. DUE TO THE RESERVOIR BOTTLES LOCATION YOU CANNOT OBSERVE THE FLUID LEVEL THIS IS ALSO HINDERED DUE TO THE PLASTIC BECOMING STAINED BLUE BY THE WIPER FLUID OVER TIME. THERE IS ALSO NO INDICATOR THAT WIPER FLUID LEVEL IS LOW FROM WITHIN THE CAB. THIS OCCURS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR STOPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE PERFORMS A "REGENERATION" OF THE DPF SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

10949567

Incident

Feb 4, 2017

Mileage

250,000 mi

BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH DEFECTIVE: UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ACTIVATE TO WARN FOLLOWING MOTORISTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ONLY WORK ON A HEAVY PEDAL APPLICATION. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE CRUISE CAN BE SET AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES WILL NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE. THE BRAKES ARE FIGHTING THE ENGINE UNTIL THE DRIVER TURNS OFF THE CRUISE AT THE SWITCH. AN INSPECTION INVOLVES PULLING DOWN THE INDEPENDENT CONTROL LEVER ON THE DASH FOR THE BRAKES WHICH IS THE SAME AS A HEAVY BRAKE APPLICATION AND THEN WALKING AROUND VEHICLE TO VERIFY IF THE BRAKES AND LIGHTS ARE WORKING. HOWEVER, THIS INSPECTION CONCEALS THE FLAW TO BOTH MECHANICS AND DRIVERS BECAUSE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED THAT HEAVILY. OF THE 300 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIAS IN THE FLEET, I AM RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO A POOL OF 30 OF WHICH I HAVE CONFIRMED THIS DEFECT IN 8 TRACTORS FROM OCTOBER 2016 TO JANUARY 2017. DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION SINCE THE TRUCKS WERE NEW BUT WE ARE NOW AWARE THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE THE FAULT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10940211

Incident

Oct 5, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

BRAND NEW PURCHASED HANKOOK TIRES FOR 6X2 TRUCK HAD CHUNKS PEELING OFF WHILE THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS IN REAR POSITION (THE TIRE CANNOT SPIN). CHUNKS OF THE TIRE FLEW ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE DRIVE WAS HAULING A CONTAINER TO THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES.

NHTSA ID

10925998

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

Mileage

980 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SAM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID

10853819

Incident

Nov 23, 2015

Mileage

89,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE UNEXPECTED SWAY IN FRONT STEERING AND REAR TAMDEMS. HAVE TO CONSTANTLY STEER BACK AND FORTH TO MAINTAIN LANE CONTROL. WORSE IN RAINY WEATHER. WHEN ENTERING A CURVE VEHICLE WILL WANDER OVER EITHER CENTER LINE OR RIGHT LINE OR ROADWAY. SUDDEN RIGHT OR LEFT SHIFTS IN REAR TANDEMS. DURING DRY WEATHER DRIVING AND WORSE IN RAINY WEATHER. HAVE ADDRESSED THIS WITH COMPANY AND FMCSA AND IOWA DOT ENFORCEMENT. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THESE TRACTORS IN THIS CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

10792615

Incident

Nov 16, 2015

Mileage

451 mi

A/C - DEFROSTER BLOWER MOTOR BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY STOP. THROWING DASH CODE SPN 523318 FMI 7 REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE BEING IN MOTION OR PARKED. THEN MOTOR QUIT WORKING SUDDENLY. UPON TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND THE MOTOR WAS SEIZED AND THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEGAN TO MELT. WHEN REPLACING THE MOTOR THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY HAD CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE MOTORS. HE REPLACED THE MOTOR, AND HAD TO ADD A NEW ADAPTOR FOR THE MOTOR. HE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD MELTED WHICH ATTACHES TO THE ADAPTOR.

NHTSA ID

10780250

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

123,525 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 45 MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID

10732665

Incident

Apr 22, 2015

Mileage

3,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT A LOW SPEED, THERE WAS A LOAD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING LINE AND THE HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V185000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10721639

Incident

Apr 5, 2015

Mileage

25,000 mi