RoadVitals

2018 Freightliner Columbia

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Apr 14, 2020
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Freightliner Columbia. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 170 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
20V214000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Apr 14, 2020
63,175 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2006-2020 Freightliner Columbia, 2006-2021 Freightliner Business Class M2, 2007-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2014-2021 Freightliner 122 SD, 2007 Sterling A 9500, 2006 Freightliner Argosy, 2006-2007 Sterling AT9500, 2008-2021 Freightliner Cascadia, 2006-2008 Freightliner Classic, 2006-2011 Freightliner Century Class, 2006-2010 Freightliner FLD, and 2017 Western Star 5700 vehicles. The rear reflective tape may be partially covered by the mudflap hanger bracket, which may reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers on the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: The vehicle's rearward visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reposition the reflective tape to ensure that it is completely visible, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL848.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL848View on NHTSA.gov
18V525000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER

Aug 9, 2018
4,155 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Cascadia, Columbia, Coronado, and Business Class M2 vehicles. During manufacturing, the brake caliper mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.
The risk: Loose brake caliper mounting bolts can reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will check and tighten the brake caliper mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began October 5, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-783.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL-783View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

CXA_10_25_TufTrac M12

SUSPENSION

CX Advocate for TufTrac M12 Bolts (TSB-32-057-FTL)

TSB32-057-FTL

SUSPENSION

Technical Service Bulletin for TufTrac M12 Bolts

WI21-009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

WI21-008

EQUIPMENT

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.

WI21-003

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Warranty Information Letter for Detroit Bearing Failures - Standard Diagnostic Times. DTNA is increasing repair strategies for determining the root cause of Detroit DD heavy duty lower end bearing failures. To support this strategy change, Detroit now has two (2) Standard Diagnostic Times (SDTs), easy and difficult, which can be applied to repair orders.

21TS-01

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT

Technical Service Letter for Detroit Bearing Failures - Standard Diagnostic Times. DTNA is increasing repair strategies for determining the root cause of Detroit DD heavy duty lower end bearing failures. To support this strategy change, Detroit now has two (2) Standard Diagnostic Times (SDTs), easy and difficult, which can be applied to repair orders.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Freightliner Columbia by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2021010—
2020020—
2019030—
2018Viewing020—
2017031—
2016031—
2015031—
2014051—
2013051—
2012061—
20110132—
20101182—
20092202—
20081303—
20071127357.0
20061421470.9
20053814464.8
20041310168.7
2003105260.9
2002232—
2001312—
2000132—
1999022—
1998022—
1997011—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.