2007 Freightliner FLD: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2006-06-12 (June 12, 2006)

CERTAIN HEAVY TRUCKS, SHUTTLE BUSES, AND SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX MODULATED SPRING BRAKE VALVES. A DEFECT IN THE MODULATED SPRING BRAKE VALVE CASTING MAY CAUSE AN INTERMITTENT DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE PARK BRAKE.

Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY ROLLAWAY WITHOUT WARNING, POSSIBLY CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE VALVES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2006 TO FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, AND FCCC OWNERS. THOMAS BUILT MAILED LETTERS TO OWNERS BEGINNING JULY 27, 2006. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED (REPLACED) BY RECALL 07V302 (FL-504).

Reported: 2007-08-02 (August 2, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A MANUFACTURING ERROR IN THE FUEL-WATER SEPARATOR PREHEATER THERMOSWITCH MAY PREVENT THE FUEL PREHEATER FROM TURNING OFF IF THE IGNITION IS LEFT ON. IF THE IGNITION SWITCH IS LEFT ON WHEN FUEL IS ADDED TO THE FUEL- WATER SEPARATOR AT THE FACTORY OR DURING A FILTER ELEMENT CHANGE, A SMALL FLAME MAY OCCUR INSIDE THE FILTER COVER.

Consequence: THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THE FLAME TO SPREAD RESULTING IN POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL FILTER DATE CODE AND THERMOSWITCH LOT CODE TO DETERMINE IF THEY CONTAIN THE SUSPECT COMPONENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 4, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2007-11-13 (November 13, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCK-TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH HOLLAND SIMPLEX SE OR SE II FIFTH WHEELS, THE LATCH LEVER PIVOT BOLT ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TIGHTENED WHICH COULD DISTORT THE PIVOT BOLT SPACER SLEEVE. CORROSION OR CONTAMINATES IN THE PIVOT MAY CAUSE IT TO BIND AND PREVENT THE FIFTH WHEEL JAW FROM LATCHING SECURELY AROUND THE TRAILER KING PIN.

Consequence: THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE FIFTH WHEEL MAY FAIL TO LATCH WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE. WHEN THE OCCURS, THE DRIVER COULD DRIVE AWAY AND THE TRAILER COULD BECOME DISENGAGED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PIVOT BOLT AND SLEEVE WITH A HEX HEAD SHOULDER BOLT AND WASHER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 3, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2008-03-11 (March 11, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 62,000 MY 2005-2007 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS, CENTURY CLASS, COLUMBIA, CORONADO, FLD, CLASSIC, STERLING A-LINE, L-LINE, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCKS. A FRACTURED FUEL LINE COULD LEAK DIESEL FUEL.

Consequence: IF A LEAK CONTINUES UNDETECTED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, FUEL MAY IGNITE AT A HOT ENGINE SURFACE AND/OR FUEL MAY BE SPILLED ON THE ROAD SURFACE.

Remedy: HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND TRANSFER TUBES WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2009-09-23 (September 23, 2009)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.

Consequence: AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE CATERPILLAR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986 OR DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2009-10-06 (October 6, 2009)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 17, 2006 AND MARCH 31, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH EPA07 MODEL MBE4000 ENGINES BUILT WITH PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES. THE PLASTIC LINES MAY EXPERIENCE LEAKS DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKS CAUSED BY STRESS AND VIBRATION COMBINED WITH HIGH INTERNAL PRESSURE.

Consequence: IF A DIESEL FUEL LEAK CONTINUES UNDETECTED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS FUEL MAY IGNITE ON A HOT ENGINE SURFACE AND/OR FUEL MAY SPILL ON THE ROAD INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES AND DIRECT WARRANTY CUSTOMERS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 7, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2010-07-27 (July 27, 2010)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER, FCCC, STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 29, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2011-03-03 (March 3, 2011)

DAIMLER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER, CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA FLD, AND M2, STERLING 9500, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 20, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE4000 EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE RECALL DURING MARCH 2011. ANOTHER NOTIFICATION WILL BE ISSUED ONCE THE REMEDY IS RELEASED. DTNA EXPECTS THE REMEDY TO BE AVAILABLE BY DECEMBER 1, 2011. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DTNA DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DTNA TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712. THIS RECALL IS ASSCOCIATED WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V-341.

Reported: 2011-09-16 (September 16, 2011)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2008 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 11, 2003, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH EPA04 MODEL MBE4000 ENGINES BUILT WITH PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTERS MOUNTED NEAR THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE BETWEEN ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL FILTER AND ENGINE BLOCK MAY DEVELOP A SUBSTANTIAL DIESEL FUEL LEAK.

Consequence: THIS COULD CREATE A ROAD HAZARD INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND THE PLASTIC LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A STEEL LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS ON OCTOBER 28, 2011. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2020-04-14 (April 14, 2020)

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."

Consequence: The vehicle's rearward visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.