The defect
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 model year Freightliner Business Class M2 and Freightliner Custom Chassis MT45 and MT55 chassis manufactured August 27, 2008, through December 10, 2013 and equipped with Eaton hybrid automated transmissions. The software controlling the affected transmissions may improperly raise the vehicle's engine speed during downshifts without the driver's input.
The risk
The increase in engine speed may result in unintended acceleration, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
DTNA will notify owners and dealers will update the hybrid transmission software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact DTNA at 1-503-745-6910. DTNA's recall number is FL-657.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 Business Class M2 | 2009 | 2 | 8 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2010 | 0 | 10 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2011 | 0 | 8 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2012 | 4 | 12 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2013 | 0 | 11 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2014 | 0 | 10 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 2009 | 0 | 3 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 2012 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 2014 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 2009 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 2010 | 0 | 3 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 2011 | 1 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 2012 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 2014 | 1 | 2 |
Other power train recalls in 2013
39 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the power train; Daimler Trucks North America filed 32 campaigns in all.
| 13V633000 16 Dec 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V610000 6 Dec 2013 | Chrysler Group LLC |
| 13V594000 25 Nov 2013 | Ford Motor Company |
| 13V572000 18 Nov 2013 | Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. |
| 13V571000 14 Nov 2013 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 13V568000 14 Nov 2013 | Volkswagen of America, Inc. |
| 13V538000 30 Oct 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V523000 30 Oct 2013 | Ford Motor Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013