The defect
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA, M2, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 11, 2011, THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2011, AND EQUIPPED WITH A MERITOR DRIVELINE. THE TUBING USED TO ASSEMBLE THE AFFECTED DRIVELINES HAS A NONCONFORMING SEAM WELD WITH INSUFFICIENT BONDING OF THE MATERIAL.
The risk
A TUBE SEAM WELD THAT IS NOT PROPERLY BONDED CAN RESULT IN THE DRIVELINE ASSEMBLY FRACTURING ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE TUBE SEAM WELD. THE FRACTURED TUBE CAN TWIST OR SEVER. THIS COULD RESULT IN ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE DRIVELINE, THE VEHICLE TO WHICH IT IS ATTACHED AND ANY ADDITIONAL NEARBY COMPONENTS. THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVELINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 27, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2011, 2012 |
| Freightliner M2 | 2011, 2012 |
| Freightliner Western Star | 2011, 2012 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
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 | 2011 | 12 | 23 |
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2012 | 17 | 19 |
| Freightliner M2 | 2011 | 0 | 17 |
| Freightliner M2 | 2012 | 2 | 9 |
| Freightliner Western Star | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner Western Star | 2012 | 0 | 2 |
Other power train recalls in 2011
39 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the power train; DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA filed 134 campaigns in all.
| 11V595000 20 Dec 2011 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC |
| 11V589000 19 Dec 2011 | NAVISTAR, INC |
| 11V594000 19 Dec 2011 | COTTRELL, INC. |
| 11V582000 8 Dec 2011 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 11V558000 18 Nov 2011 | DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 11V537000 3 Nov 2011 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 11V509000 20 Oct 2011 | PJ TRAILERS |
| 11V476000 15 Sept 2011 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011