2014 Freightliner M2: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE TWO 'GRIPES' ABOUT CRUISE CONTROL: 1. THE LACK OF A 'CRASH SWITCH' TO DUMP THE CRUISE CONTROL AGGRAVATED AN ACCIDENT I RECENTLY HAD IN A TRUCK. I REMEMBER YEARS AGO INSTALLING CC IN A CAR, AND THERE WAS A MERCURY SWITCH TO DUMP THE CRUISE CONTROL IF THE CAR WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. OCCASIONALLY, THERE WAS A FALSE DUMP ON A BUMP, BUT IT JUST SERVED TO REMIND ME THE SAFETY FEATURE WAS WORKING! 2. IN AN AUTO WITH AUTOMATIC AND SELECTIVE SPORT SHIFT, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T DISENGAGE WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED. IN A MANUAL CAR, THE C…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10712330 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-02-21 (February 21, 2014)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (Daimler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2015 Freightliner 114SD, Cascadia, M2 Business Class, Sterling LT8500, and Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX vehicles manufactured February 19, 2008, through February 11, 2014, and equipped with Cummins Westport Model ISL G and Cummins Westport Model ISX12 G engines. Condensation in the intake manifold may freeze during cold weather conditions and interfere with the proper operation of the intake manifold pressure sensor.

Consequence: The sensor malfunction could induce elevated exhaust temperatures or flames from the exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire or burn injury to a person near the exhaust pipe.

Remedy: Cummins and Cummins Westport will notify owners, and authorized Cummins service facilities will upload a new ECM calibration, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2014. Customers may contact Daimler at 1-800-385-4357 or Cummins Inc. at 1-800-343-7357. Daimler's number for this recall is FL-660.

Reported: 2014-03-28 (March 28, 2014)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Coronado, Argosy, Cascadia, Columbia, and M2 Business Class, and Western Star 4700, and 4900 vehicles manufactured August 5, 2013, through November 15, 2013, and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 seat belt buckles. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

Consequence: If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2014. Owners may contact Daimler at 1-800-385-4357. DTNA's number for this campaign is FL-661. Note: This is an expansion of recall 13V-604.

Reported: 2014-10-29 (October 29, 2014)

Daimler Trucks of North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Freightliner Cascadia and M2 trucks manufactured June 2, 2011 to October 23, 2014. The vehicles are not in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 303, "Fuel System Integrity Of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles." Specifically, the tail pipe on these vehicles terminates under the compressed natural gas (CNG) tank and can overheat the fuel system.

Consequence: Due to the area of its placement, the exhaust system forces heat around, and may overheat, the fuel system components, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will extend the tailpipe beyond the cabinet, free of charge. The recall began Feburary 12, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-671.

Reported: 2014-10-29 (October 29, 2014)

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Freightliner M2 trucks manufactured December 10, 2012, to October 28, 2014, and equipped with the auto-apply brake feature. In the affected vehicles, the parking brake may apply unintentionally.

Consequence: If the parking brake applies without warning while driving and without activating the brake lights, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will remedy the vehicles, free of charge. DTNA issued an interim notification letter to owners on December 26, 2014. The recall began on February 18, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-672.

Reported: 2015-02-25 (February 25, 2015)

Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling various specialty vehicles modified by Farber and equipped with model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Consequence: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Remedy: Farber will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Farber's number for this recall is 14E-041.

Reported: 2015-04-14 (April 14, 2015)

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."

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2015-06-03 (June 3, 2015)

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.

Consequence: If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.

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.

Reported: 2015-10-20 (October 20, 2015)

Fontaine Modification is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Freightliner M2 vehicles converted to be equipped with dual steering wheels by Fontaine Modification between March 13, 2014 and September 1, 2015. In the affected vehicles, a locating pin in the dual steering linkage may break or fall out resulting in the momentary loss of steering or steering lock up.

Consequence: A momentary loss of steering or steering lock up increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Fontaine Modification will notify owners and supply a steering linkage locating key remedy kit for Freightliner dealers or authorized service facilities (including the customer's own maintenance shop) to install free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Fontaine Modification customer service at 1-800-366-8246.

Reported: 2017-11-20 (November 20, 2017)

E-One Incorporated (E-One) is recalling certain 2013-2017 E-One Cyclone II, Quest, Typhoon, 2016 Freightliner M2 112, 2013-2015 International 7400, 2014-2017 International 4400, Freightliner M2 106, 2016-2017 Kenworth T370, and 2015 Kenworth T800 vehicles equipped with Hale pressure relief valves in the water pumps used for fire fighting. Rings securing the valves may corrode over time after exposure to water, causing the ring to fail and the pressure relief valve to open, reducing the water pressure available for fire fighting.

Consequence: A reduction in water pressure may hinder fire fighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: E-One will notify owners, and a certified dealer or technician will install a stainless steel retaining ring, free of charge. The recall began on January 11, 2018. Owners may contact E-One customer service at 1-352-861-3612.

Reported: 2018-02-05 (February 5, 2018)

Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. (Ferrara) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Inferno and International 4400, 2013-2016 Igniter, 2014-2017 Cinder and Freightliner M2 106, 2013-2014 Ember and 2013-2017 Kenworth T370 fire-fighting vehicles, equipped with Hale pressure relief valves in the water pumps used for fire fighting. Rings securing the valves may corrode over time after exposure to water, causing the ring to fail and the pressure relief valve to open, reducing the water pressure available for fire fighting.

Consequence: A reduction in water pressure may hinder fire fighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ferrara will notify owners, and Ferrara certified dealers or technicians will replace the relief valve retaining ring with one that is stainless steel, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ferrara customer service at 1-800-443-9006.

Reported: 2019-05-14 (May 14, 2019)

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."

Consequence: An insufficient air reservoir volume may reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.

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.