The defect
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Coronado, Argosy, Cascadia, M2 Business Class, and Western Star 4700, 4900, and 6900 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."
The risk
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.
The remedy
DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by January 26, 2014. Owners may contact Daimler at 1-800-385-4357. DTNA's number for this campaign is FL-654.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
Components: SEAT BELTS
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 108SD | 2014 | 0 | 7 |
| Freightliner 114SD | 2014 | 0 | 9 |
| Freightliner 122SD | 2014 | 0 | 5 |
| Freightliner Argosy | 2014 | 0 | 3 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2014 | 0 | 10 |
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2014 | 12 | 21 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2014 | 0 | 5 |
| Freightliner Coronado | 2014 | 0 | 8 |
| Western Star 4700 | 2014 | 0 | 9 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2014 | 3 | 11 |
| Western Star 6900 | 2014 | 0 | 4 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2013
22 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the seat belts; Daimler Trucks North America filed 32 campaigns in all.
| 13V631000 19 Dec 2013 | Navistar, Inc. |
| 13V630000 19 Dec 2013 | Navistar, Inc. |
| 13V613000 6 Dec 2013 | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 13V619000 29 Nov 2013 | Mack Trucks, Inc. |
| 13V618000 29 Nov 2013 | Volvo Trucks North America |
| 13V606000 29 Nov 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V601000 29 Nov 2013 | E-One Incorporated |
| 13V620000 29 Nov 2013 | Prevost Cars, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013