2007 Freightliner Columbia

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.

THE VIN LAST 6: [XXX] ; ZF MERIT OR,12 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THE CENTER CARRIER BEARING WHICH SUPPORTS THE OUTPUT SHAFT AFTER THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS AND HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY. THE FIRST REPAIR INVOICE WAS ON 3/1/2012 AND THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS ON 4/28/2014. THE RUBBER COMPOUND USED IN THE CENTER CARRIER BEARING NEEDS TO BE REEVALUATED. ONCE THE CENTER CARRIER BEARING HAS PLAY IN THE Z DIRECTION, THERE WOULD BE EXCESSIVE VIBRATION THAT CAN FATIGUE OTHER COMPONENTS AND CAUSE FAILURE BY INITIATING A FATIGUE CRACK AND PROPAGATING DUE TO CYCLIC STRESSES. MERITOR SHOULD REEVALUATE THE RELIABILITY OF THEIR CENTER CARRIER ASSEMBLY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

NHTSA ID

10585701

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA 120 TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD OBSTRUCT HIS VIEW WHENEVER IT WAS RAINING AND WATER WAS ON THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,000,000. UPDATED 06/15/10 *BF UPDATED 07/14/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10327701

Incident

Mar 14, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA. UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER AND POWER STEERING PUMP IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 413,238.

NHTSA ID

10320468

Incident

Mar 14, 2010

Mileage

413,238 mi

2007 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA DASH BOARD INSTRUMENT UNIT OWN TRUCK FOR 3 YEARS AND I AM ON MY 3RD ONE, AND LOW VOLTGE SHUT DOWN, SHUTS DOWN ALL NON PRIMARY ELECTRICAL STUFF, THEY FREIGHTLINER DISCONNECTED IT AND ITS NEVER BEEN FIX, CAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, I THINK THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279432

Incident

Aug 3, 2009

WIPERS ON LOWEST INTERMITTENT POSITION DURING A LIGHT MIST, AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES IN THIS POSITION, WIPERS STOPPED SUDDENLY AND REMAINED IN THEIR "TRANSIT" POSITION. VISIBILITY IMMEDIATELY WENT TO ZERO (I WAS IN OUTSIDE LANE AND PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER.) I REPLACED THE FUSE/CIRCUIT WITH A STANDARD FUSE OF EQUAL RATING AND IT IMMEDIATELY BLEW. AFTER ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES, I RE-INSTALLED THE ORIGINAL FUSE/CIRCUIT AND THE WIPERS BEGAN WORKING. I CONTINUED WITH THE WIPERS IN THE STANDARD RUN POSITION WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER DURING A SNOW STORM IN COLORADO I HAD THE WIPER IN THE LOW INTERMITTENT POSITION AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS RESULTED IN HAVING STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY UNTIL THE WIPERS RESUMED OPERATING. THIS TIME IT TOOK ONLY A FEW MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251857

Incident

Nov 28, 2008

Mileage

141,000 mi

ROOF LEAK THAT HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE TAKING DELIVERY OF TRUCK BRAND NEW IN JUNE OF 2007. WHEN TRUCK IS SUBJECTED TO HEAVY RAIN, AND SOMETIMES JUST A TRUCK WASH, WATER COMES IN ROOF AT SOME POINT AND SHORTS OUT THE ELECTRONIC MODULES LOCATED IN SIDE PILLAR NEXT TO DRIVERS SEAT. HAVE ALSO HAD EPISODES WHERE THE DASH INSTRUMENTS WILL SURGE POWER ON AND OFF WITH NO KEY IN IGNITION, OR IF TRUCK IS RUNNING IT CANNOT BE SHUT OFF WITH KEY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. HAVE PUT TRUCK IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. EACH TIME THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC MODULES THAT HAVE SHORTED OUT, AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE. HOWEVER, DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. NOT EVEN SURE OF WHERE ELSE THE WATER IS GOING INSIDE TRUCK. ONLY KNOW ABOUT IT INSIDE PILLAR BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRONIC MODULES IT DAMAGES. TRUCK HAS SINCE STARTED TO ACQUIRE A MUSTY DAMP ODOR AND HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE IT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS BECAUSE IT MAKES ME EXTREMELY SICK, AND AM CURRENTLY HAVING CONTINUOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS. I AM AT THE POINT WHERE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR WHERE I STAND ON THIS SITUATION BECAUSE AS FAR AS I KNOW I HAVE NO LEGAL PROTECTION SUCH AS A LEMON LAW ON A COMMERCIAL TRUCK, EVEN THOUGH DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228086

Incident

Jun 21, 2007

A DRIVER FOR OUR COMPANY WAS OPERATING A 2007 FREIGHTLINER CL 112 TRACTOR WITH 50,000 MILES EQUIPPED WITH A MERCEDES BENZ (MBE4000) WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. UNIT WAS BEING DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING IN THE CAB. DRIVER PULLED THE TRUCK TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONTAIN IT. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND DID PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE TRACTOR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. AT THIS TIME NO CAUSE FOR THE FIRE HAS BEEN DETERMINED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10204654

Incident

Jun 15, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR A SAFETY RELATED ISSUES WITH A 5TH WHEEL ON HEAVY TRUCKS. I HAVE MORE LOTS MORE INFORMATION THAT I CAN FORWARD TO YOU. OVER 300 VINS AND A LETTER FROM THE VENDOR OF THE EQUIPMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200553

Incident

Aug 23, 2007

Revised Freightliner Service Bulletin for Bergstrom NITE Parked HVAC Performance Issues. Minor note: added an update of document previously submitted. The related VMRS codes are added

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.

Revised Technical Service Letter for Series 60 and Series 50 Camshaft Timing Specifications. Camshaft timing, valve lash, injector height, and Jake Brake lash are all very important specifications that must be followed closely in order to optimize the performance and service life of any Detroit Diesel engine.

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.

Updated Freightliner Service Bulletin for Powernet Troubleshooting Guide - Batteries, Path, Alternator, and Starter. This bulletin replaces the version dated 5/31/2017. Information is added about the BCT-460DTNA PowerNet Assessment Tool. When troubleshooting Powernet issues, use the BCT-460DTNA PowerNet Assessment Tool. As of May 29, 2018, the AutoMeter® is the only Daimler-approved tool for troubleshooting vehicle Powernet issues.

Freightliner Service Bulletin for Axle Flange Gasket Replaced with O-Ring. 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.