EQUIPMENT
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado trucks and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900 and 6900 trucks. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, or contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-759.
24,860 vehicles affected
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
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.
25,362 vehicles affected
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
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.
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.
62,000 vehicles affected
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE CAB POWER DISTRIBUTION MODEL (PDM) MAY BE MISSING OR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
61,000 vehicles affected
THE AIR FORCE LOST A SEMI TRUCK-TRACTOR IN A VEHICLE FIRE ON 6/30/2006. THE VEHICLE, A 2005 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CLASS TRACTOR, WAS LEASED FROM GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. A SEMI-TRAILER OWNED BY THE AIR FORCE WAS ALSO DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE DEPARTED TRAVIS AFB, CA AROUND 1115L ON 6/30/2006. AFTER THE OPERATOR SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR. AS HE PULLED OFF ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. OPENING THE HOOD, HE SAW FIRE IN THE AIR CLEANER. HE RETRIEVED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES BUT THE FIRE REGAINED INTENSITY AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE HIGHWAY PATROL/FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 1156L AND 1204L RESPECTIVELY. SAFETY INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FIRE IGNITED WHEN THE BATTERY CABLE ARCED ON THE RIGHT FRONT LEAF SPRING DUE TO LOOSE WIRE HANGERS. TWO BOLTS ON THE TRANSMISSION HOLD THE BRACKETS THAT SUPPORT THE MAIN BATTERY CABLE/ALTERNATOR CABLE. THE LOOSE BOLTS ALLOWED THE MAIN BATTERY CABLE/ALTERNATOR CABLE TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE TWO INCH LONG TRANSMISSION/HANGER BOLT ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS BACKED OUT 1/2 INCH AND THE BOLT ON THE RIGHT WAS BACKED OUT 1/4 INCH. A ONE-TIME INSPECTION (OTI) OF ALL SIMILAR TRUCKS DISCOVERED FOUR ADDITIONAL TRACTORS WITH LOOSE BATTERY CABLES/CLAMPS. ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS AT THE BELL-HOUSING AND HOW THE BRACKET WHERE THE BATTERY CABLES ATTACH IS SECURED TO THE TRANSMISSION. A MINOR REPAIR IS NEEDED TO FIX THE DEFECT. BECAUSE THE BELL-HOUSING BOLT HOLES ARE COUNTERSUNK AND CIRCULAR, THE BRACKET WHICH SECURES THE BATTERY CABLES CANNOT BE MOUNTED FLUSH WITH THE BELL-HOUSING. THIS CAUSES THE BELL-HOUSING BOLT TO BACK OUT AND LET THE BRACKET HANG LOOSE. THE SOLUTION: ADD ANOTHER FLAT WASHER BEHIND THE BRACKET TO ALLOW IT TO SIT FLUSH, AND ADD A LOCK WASHER TO THE FRONT OF THE BRACKET TO PREVENT IT FROM LOOSENING. THE FIX TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES PER VEHICLE. *JB
Fire
EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CAB. GETTING SICK FOR ABOUT A MONTH. SINUS INFECTION AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. NO CO TEST PERFORMED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR 2 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THE METER IS READING OVER 50 PPM TO 100 PPM IF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE IS CLEAR. CURRENTLY THE INTAKE IS PLUGGED WITH PLASTIC BAGS TO PREVENT THE CO FROM ENTERING THE CAB. WITH THE BAGS IN PLACE THE READING IS 10 PPM. HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2.5 YEARS. THE PROBLEM SEEMD TO START AROUND 200,000 MILES. I WAS TIRED ALL THE TIME.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FOUL ODOR FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT BECAME PHYSICALLY ILL DUE TO THE EXHAUST FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
1 injured
NOV,2 OF 2006, TOOK THE TRUCK INTO FREIGHTLINER IN REDDING,CA. COMPLAINED OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE CAB AGAIN, THEY SAID THAT THEY FIXED IT, ONCE AGAIN FUMES COMMING IN AFTER I LEFT THERE SHOP. BECAME ILL AN STAYED AT HOME, LUNG PROBLEMS, HEADAKES, BURNING EYES. WENT TO DOCTORS. HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO COMPANY ATTENTION, THEY IGNORED ME. NOW HAVE TO TAKE TRUCK INTO SHOP AGAIN THIS WILL 3 TIMES. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER DRIVERS WITHIN THE COMPANY HAVING SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THERES NO FIX TO THIS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AN UNSAFE. WHY ARE THE FUMES COMMING THROUGH THE VENTS. *JB
AFTER ABOUT 30 MIN COULD SMELL FUMES COMING INTO TRUCK THROUGH AIR CONDITION VENT. WHEN I GET OF TRUCK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, STARTING TO FEEL BETTER. WHILE SITTING IN THE TRUCK I START FEELING DIZZY, SINUS START UP AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS IN TRUCK, TIRED ALL THE TIME,WAKE UP WITH HEADACHES. SUSPECT CARBON MONOXIDE COMING IN .DETROIT ENGINE EGR. *JB