RoadVitals

2012 Freightliner M2

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

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.
2
Latest Sep 29, 2018
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.
9
Latest May 14, 2019
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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Freightliner M2, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and suspension categories. 9 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 128 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance133.3%
  • Engine133.3%
  • Suspension133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

9 campaigns cover this model year

View all 9

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
19V370000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

May 14, 2019
741 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2004-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Cascadia, Columbia, Classic, FL80, FLD 120SD, Business Class M2, Western Star 4700, 4900, 6900, Sterling Acterra, L7500, LT7500, L8500, LT8500, L9500, and LT9500 vehicles. The vehicles may have an insufficient service brake air reservoir capacity. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk: An insufficient air reservoir volume may reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will add air reservoir capacity to the affected vehicles. Owner letters were mailed on November 29, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-815.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL-815View on NHTSA.gov
15V343000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Jun 3, 2015
3,200 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2016 Freightliner 114SD and M2 Business Class trucks, 2008-2009 Sterling LT8500 trucks and Thomas Built Bus Saf-T-Liner HDX transit buses equipped with certain Cummins Westport ISL G engines. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.
The risk: If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The remedy: Cummins will notify owners on behalf of DTNA, and dealers will secure the ends of the 90-degree elbow. In addition, the electronic control module (ECM) will be reprogrammed with software that can adjust the engine output under misfire conditions to limit crankcase pressures. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000 or Cummins customer service at 1-800-343-7357. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-681.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL-681View on NHTSA.gov
15V220000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Apr 14, 2015
3,571 units potentially affected
The defect: Fontaine Modification (Fontaine) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Freightliner M2 trucks manufactured January 2, 2006, to January 23, 2015 and modified by Fontaine to have dual steering. Brake lights of the affected vehicles will not illuminate if the primary brake air supply is depleted below 6 psi. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk: If the primary brake air system fails causing the truck to rely on the secondary brake air system, the brakes lights may not illuminate when the brakes are applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Fontaine will notify owners, and dealers will install a repair kit to resolve the issue, free of charge. The recallbegan on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Fontaine customer service at 1-800-366-8246.
Fontaine ModificationView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 29, 2018

THE INTAKE HEATER LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I INCREASE SPEED OVER 25 MILES AND HOUR. ONCE AT 55 MILES AN HOUR, THE LIGHT STAYS ON.

NHTSA ID
11132291
Incident
Sep 28, 2018
Mileage
430,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 6, 2017

SWAY BAR VERTICAL LINK BUSHINGS ARE PULVERIZED COMPLETELY GONE WITHIN 1500 MILES AFTER REPLACEMENT CAUSING AN UNSAFE TOP HEAVY ROLL OF THE MOTORHOME REDUCING STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I'VE HAD FREIGHTLINER SAN DIEGO REPLACE THESE BUSHING, I'VE REPLACED THEM TWICE, AND HAD A SUSPENSION SHOP REPLACE THEM ONCE. EVERY OTHER SENECA OWNER BUILT ON THE FREIGHTLINER M2 CHASSIS EXPERIENCES THE SAME ISSUE. FREIGHTLINER RECOGNIZES THERE IS AN ISSUE THROUGH A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-32-47, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ADDRESSING THIS SERIOUS ROLL AFFECTING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CHECK THE RV FORUMS ANYONE WITH ONE OF THESE CHASSIS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME VEHICLE CONTROL OVER THE INADEQUACY OF THE CONNECTION POINTS OF THE SWAY BAR. I FIRST NOTICED THE BUSHING WERE GONE AFTER OUR FIRST TRIP IN THE MOTORHOME ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR AN OBVIOUSLY POORLY DESIGNED SUSPENSION COMPONENT.

NHTSA ID
11043725
Incident
Oct 5, 2012
Mileage
5,600 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

TT8745

POWER TRAIN

Notice concerning Freightliner Service Bulletin 20-086

19-008WI

EQUIPMENT

Warranty Information Letter sent to customers regarding new refrigerator supplier for returning parts.

SF585 2

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Receiver/Dryer Bracket and CAC Plumbing Interference

SF585

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Receiver/Dryer Bracket and CAC Plumbing Interference Field Service Campaign

18TS4Rev DD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

18TS4Rev DD Heavy Duty Platform Accessory Drive Belt

GHG17

ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Letter to customer on Coverage Extension GHG17 After Treatment

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 M2 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024020—
2023020—
2022310—
2021720—
2020020—
2019110—
2018040—
2017160—
2016260—
20151120—
20141111—
2013180—
2012Viewing290—
20110172—
20101171—
20093151—
20081100—
2007271—
2006350—
2005020—
2004000—

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.