2009 Sterling 9500: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2009-06-12 (June 12, 2009)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 1,460 MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND FCCC CHASSIS (USED ON THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES) MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 11 THROUGH DECEMBER 16, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN HALDEX QUICK RELEASE VALVES (QRV). THE RUBBER DIAPHRAGM INSIDE THE QRV MAY EXPERIENCE DELAMINATION RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF AIR PRESSURE LEAKAGE PAST AND/OR THROUGH THE DIAPHRAGM, OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BUBBLE IN THE DIAPHRAGM WHICH MAY TRAP AIR PRESSURE IN THE VALVE AND NOT ALLOW THE SERVICE BRAKES TO RELEASE.

Consequence: MALFUNCTION OF THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 12, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.

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

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 5, 2008 AND JANUARY 7, 2009, EQUIPPED DD15 ENGINES AND WITH BOSCH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS. THE FASTENERS ON THESE FUEL PUMPS COULD BE UNDER-TORQUED ALLOWING THE "O" RING BETWEEN THE PUMP HOUSING AND THE BARREL TO PROTRUDE AND LEAK.

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 DECEMBER 22, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT 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: 2009-10-08 (October 8, 2009)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 FREIGHTLINER, STERLING AND WESTERN STAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL DD15 EPA07 ENGINES WHICH WERE MANUFACTURED WITH GRID HEATERS. INCREASED INTERNAL GRID HEATER RESISTANCE CAUSED BY IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED SCREWS MAY MELT THE SOLDER ON THE GRID HEATER CIRCUIT BOARD LEADING TO A SHORT CIRCUIT.

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

Remedy: THE ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC WILL BE REPROGRAMMED FREE OF CHARGE BY DETROIT DIESEL AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES AND DIRECT WARRANTY CUSTOMERS TO PROVIDE COLD WEATHER STARTING WITHOUT THE NEED OF A GRID HEATER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 1-313-592-5800 AND DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2009-11-02 (November 2, 2009)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 FREIGHTLINER, AND STERLING VEHICLES EQUIPPED DETROIT DIESEL DD13 EPA07 ENGINES WHICH WERE MANUFACTURED WITH GRID HEATERS. INCREASED INTERNAL GRID HEATER RESISTANCE CAUSED BY IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED SCREWS MAY MELT THE SOLDER ON THE GRID HEATER CIRCUIT BOARD LEADING TO A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DETROIT DIESEL WILL REPAIR VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC WILL BE REPROGRAMMED TO PROVIDE COLD WEATHER STARTING WITHOUT THE NEED OF A GRID HEATER. WIRING TO THE GRID HEATER WILL BE REMOVED. THE SAFETY RECALLBEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 1-313-592-5800 OR DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2010-03-23 (March 23, 2010)

DAIMLER TRUCKS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA, FLD, STERLING 9500 AND WESTERN STAR 4900 EMERGENCY VEHICLES. THE ENGINE MAY SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN A DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER OVER TEMPERATURE CONDITION IS DETECTED.

Consequence: UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTDOWN UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD HAMPER RESCUE OPERATIONS AND PLACE THE PUBLIC AT RISK.

Remedy: THE ENGINE CONTROL LOGIC WILL BE REPROGRAMMED TO ILLUMINATE A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT WITHOUT REQUESTING ENGINE SHUTDOWN. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL. PLEASE SEE DAIMLER TRUCKS DEFECT REPORT 10E-005. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 17, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 1-313-592-5800 OR 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: 2012-02-28 (February 28, 2012)

DAIMLER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2013 FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL EPA07 AND EPA10, DD13 AND DD15/16 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 20, 2006, THROUGH FEBRUARY 20, 2012. THE PUMP TO RAIL HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE SUPPORT SYSTEM USED ON THESE ENGINES IS SENSITIVE TO ASSEMBLY TORQUE AND MAY BE DAMAGED DURING SERVICE WORK. AS A RESULT OF OTHER REPAIRS, THE LINE SUPPORTS MAY LOOSEN, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO FUEL LINE CRACKING AND A FUEL LEAK.

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

Remedy: DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND WHERE NECESSARY, THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE SUPPORT SYSTEM WILL BE REPLACED BY DTNA AUTHORIZED SERVICE FACILITIES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DTNA AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2012-08-16 (August 16, 2012)

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Freightliner, Sterling, and Western Star vehicles manufactured from July 7, 2008, through December 15, 2011, and equipped with perpendicular air tank mounting brackets. The air tank mounting brackets may develop cracks which can lead to the air tank brackets separating from the frame rail. The air tanks may also separate from the vehicle.

Consequence: Air tanks that become separated from a moving vehicle may create a road debris hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air mounting brackets, free of charge. The recall began on December 24, 2012. Owners may contact Daimler Trucks North America toll free at 1-800-547-0712.