2009 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.

2008 CATERPILLAR ACERT C13 CRANKCASE BREATHER FILTER CLOGGED BECAUSE OF DESIGN. CAUSED TRUCK TO SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC CREATING A SAFETY INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555060

Incident

Dec 2, 2013

Mileage

402,227 mi

A COMMERCIAL TRUCK VEHICLE MAINTENANCE VIOLATION, WAS ISSUED DURING A ROAD SIDE INCEPTION BY A CERTIFIED DOT INSPECTOR, FOR EMERGENCY BRAKE HOSE CHAFFING. A VIOLATION OF 393.45B2. OUR INVESTIGATION PROVED BEYOND ANY QUESTIONS THAT THIS IS THE WAY FREIGHTLINERS BUILD IT'S TRUCK FOR THE PAST DECADE AND STILL DOES. WE HAVE OBTAINED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT OUR CLAIM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK, AS COMPROMISING THIS HOSE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIR PSI NEEDED FOR SEPARATING OF THE BRAKE SHOE FROM THE DRUMS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION TO THE DRIVER. ON A SEPARATE INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING IN WINNIPEG, M.B, THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY CAUGHT FIRE!. *JB FURTHER MORE, 393.45 SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCT AN EOM HOW TO BUILD SUCH LINE AND PROHIBITED THE CHAFFING @ TIME OF MANUFACTURING . WE KNOW THAT FREIGHTLINERS ARE AWARE OF THE FACT, AND KNOWINGLY SET IT'S COSTUMER TO FAIL @ A GREAT RISK TO OTHERS THAT SHARE THE ROADS. ALL OF OUR EVIDENCE CAN BE EMAILED. ANYONE CAN WALK INTO ANY FREIGHTLINER DEALERSHIP, LIKE WE DID, LOOK ON THAT HOSE, AND FIND IT TO BE IN VIOLATION OF 393.45. WE HAVE GONE A LONG WE TO OBTAINED OUR EVIDENCE, CONTACTED FREIGHTLINER, LEO'S, MANY DOT INSPECTORS, AND THE ONES THAT TRAINED THOSE INSPECTORS. WE ARE NOW CERTAIN THAT MOST OF ALL FREIGHTLINERS TRUCKS ON THE ROAD ARE IN FACT IN VIOLATION OF 393.45, @ GREAT RISK. ALL OF OUR EVIDENCE CAN BE E-MAILED. AND WE ARE WILLING TO HELP BY ANY MEANS TO HELP EXPLAIN OR SOLVE THIS RISK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10541819

Incident

Jul 2, 2013

Mileage

600,000 mi

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.

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.

Technical Service Letter for SPN 3711 FMI 31 on GHG17 DD15 Trucks.

Special Publication letter for Two-Filter Fuel System KM59 GEN1 DD15 DD16 Severe Duty High Pressure Fuel Rail Feed Lines Service Kit.

Special Publication Letter for EPA07 EPA10 Three-Filter Fuel System DD15 DD16 Severe Duty High Pressure Fuel Rail Feed Lines Service Kit