2006 Freightliner Century

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.

ON NOVEMBER 19, 2007, FREIGHTLINER FILED DEFECT REPORT 07V-530 WHICH OUTLINES A SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM TO NOTIFY THE AFFECTED OWNERS AND CORRECT THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

AS A RESULT OF THE ODI INVESTIGATION, FREIGHTLINER HAS AGREED TO RECALL (NUMBER 07V-289) ALL OF THE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH STEERING COLUMNS POTENTIALLY MISSING WELDS.THE RECALL REMEDY WILL INVOLVE INSPECTING THE RECALLED VEHICLES FOR MISSING WELDS AND IF FOUND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN.EARLY WARNING AGGREGATE DATA SUBMITTED TO NHTSA BY FREIGHTLINER SUGGESTED THAT A STEERING PROBLEM (EWR CODE 01) EXISTED FOR THE 2004 AND 2005 CENTURY AND COLUMBIA CLASS VEHICLES.THE COUNT OF FIELD REPORTS SUBMITTED FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2006 WAS HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE OF THE PREVIOUS 6 QUARTERS FOR THE AGGREGATE STEERING DATA.ODI'S FURTHER REVIEW OF THE EWR DATA FOUNDFIELD REPORTS THAT DESCRIBED STEERING COLUMN FAILURES AS A RESULT OF STEERING COLUMN WELDS CRACKING OR BREAKING.INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM FREIGHTLINER DETAILED FAILURES OF THE STEERING COLUMNS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE FAILURES WERE THE RESULT OF MISSING AND CRACKED WELDS ON THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY.DURING TESTING OF VEHICLES CONTAINING DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMNS, ODI DETERMINED THAT WELD FAILURES IN THE STEERING COLUMN CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER OR MAY STARTLE THE DRIVER UPON FAILING, THUS PRESENTING A SAFETY RISK.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.FREIGHTLINER'S ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION AND, THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

I PURCHASED TRUCK 11/2010 TRUCK DROVE FINE FOR THE FIRST YR. PULLING VERY LIGHT FREIGHT ALWAYS THE TRUCK BECAME VERY HARD TO CONTROL. TRUCK DANCES, HOPS, BOUNCE ETC. I HAVE HAD SUSPENSION WORK DONE AND THE PROB HAS NOT IMPROVED. I DON'T GET IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR NO PHYSICAL SIGNS THAT CAN BE SEEN, JUST POOR PERFORMANCE. I WOULD NOT BUY ANOTHER ONE. THE ENGINE/ TRANS, NO COMPLAINTS, ONLY THE DRIVABILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667201

Incident

May 14, 2013

Mileage

850,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED FAILURE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN TWO RECALLS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 07V473000: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: RADIATOR ASSEMBLY AND 09V357000: STEERING: RACK AND PINION). THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PARTS NEEDED TO MAKE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME READILY AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

NHTSA ID

10345839

Incident

Jul 27, 2010

Mileage

145,000 mi

BEEN IN THIS FREIGHTLINER,CENTURY, WITH DETROIT POWER, HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HEADACHES(SEVERE) SINUS ISSUES,CAN SMELL EXHAUST IN TRUCK,TIRED ALL THE TIME,EYES BOTHERING ME, DRY THROAT,BEEN THIS TRUCK FOR 3 MONTHS NOW. SUSPECT FUMES COMING FROM AIR VENTS, CANT SHUT IT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10209834

Incident

Nov 25, 2007

Mileage

257,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FREIGHTLINER. IN SEPTEMBER 2006 THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH, AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2006. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TENSIONER AND THE AIR BAGS. IN FEBRUARY 2007 THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CLOCK SPRING/STEERING SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN MARCH 2007 THE FAILURE RECURRED, AND THE DEALER PERFORMED A SERVICE INVOLVING THE AIR BAG MODULE/OCCUPANT RESTRAINT. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AT 33,500 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE CLOCK SPRING/STEERING SENSOR AGAIN. ON APRIL 23, 2007 THE FAILURE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT DUE TO THE ONGOING FAILURES CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS, AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. HE WAS ISSUED REFERENCE # 16231713 BY CHRYSLER, AND STATED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS MAY MALFUNCTION IN A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER SENT HIM TO GOSSET MOTORS IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT A SHORTAGE SQUIB OCCURRED IN BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT AIR BAGS, BUT FOUND NOTHING THAT COULD BE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THEY RESET THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 36,809, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL IS YET TO BE REPAIRED AND HE WANTS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES AND REPAIRS FOR VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED ALL INVOICE REPAIRS FOR VEHICLE PERTAINING TO DEFECT AND REGISTRATION, BILL OF SALE. 06/22/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10189241

Incident

Nov 8, 2006

Mileage

28,000 mi

FREIGHTLINER CENTURY WITH 14L 60 SERIES ENGINE HAS HAD EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPLACED TWICE. BOTH NEW MANIFOLDS STILL LEAKING EXHAUST. CANNOT CLOSE VENTS IN TRUCK. NO OPTION TO CLOSE VENTS ON SWITCH PANEL. EXHAUST COMING INTO CAB. CLEAN AIR INTAKE FOR CAB IS UNDER THE HOOD IN THE DIRECT LINE OF MANIFOLD LEAKAGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158761

Incident

May 22, 2006

Mileage

38,000 mi

JUST GOT A 2006 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY WITH 14L 60 SERIES DETRIOT, TURBO CLAMP WAS LOOSE, BOTH FLEX PIPES LEAKED WITHIN 2 MONTHS, EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON ENGINE WOULD NOT SEAL, CLAMPS ON INTAKE ON LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE WERE LOOSE CREATING EXHAUST LEAK. NEW MANIFOLD WILL NOT SEAL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10157945

Incident

May 21, 2006

Mileage

23 mi

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