The defect
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.
The risk
A SHORT-CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Freightliner Century | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Sterling 8500 | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Sterling 9500 | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2007 | 1 | 12 |
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2008 | 8 | 22 |
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2009 | 19 | 24 |
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2010 | 12 | 23 |
| Freightliner Century | 2007 | 0 | 9 |
| Freightliner Century | 2008 | 1 | 9 |
| Freightliner Century | 2009 | 0 | 12 |
| Freightliner Century | 2010 | 0 | 11 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2007 | 11 | 27 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2008 | 1 | 30 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2009 | 2 | 20 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2010 | 1 | 18 |
| Sterling 8500 | 2007 | 0 | 4 |
| Sterling 8500 | 2008 | 0 | 4 |
| Sterling 8500 | 2009 | 1 | 5 |
| Sterling 8500 | 2010 | 0 | 5 |
| Sterling 9500 | 2007 | 1 | 5 |
| Sterling 9500 | 2008 | 0 | 5 |
| Sterling 9500 | 2009 | 0 | 10 |
| Sterling 9500 | 2010 | 0 | 9 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2007 | 0 | 14 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2008 | 0 | 17 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2009 | 1 | 16 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2010 | 0 | 14 |
Other engine and engine cooling recalls in 2009
37 of the 491 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2009 concerned the engine and engine cooling; DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA filed 134 campaigns in all.
| 09V499000 30 Dec 2009 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 09V482000 17 Dec 2009 | SUTPHEN CORPORATION |
| 09V473000 14 Dec 2009 | BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC. |
| 09V471000 10 Dec 2009 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 09V466000 3 Dec 2009 | SEAGRAVE FIRE APPARATUS, LLC |
| 09V464000 2 Dec 2009 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A. |
| 09V459000 1 Dec 2009 | NEWELL COACH CORP. |
| 09V455000 30 Nov 2009 | SPARTAN CHASSIS, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2009