2021 FCCC XCM Complaints

The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner XC-M chassis. The contact stated that the instrument cluster had become delaminated, making the display difficult to read. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

Defect: On Freightliner Custom Chassis diesel motorhomes the entire instrument cluster is a single all-digital "OptiView" LCD (Medallion 12.3", part 66-02439-000). The factory adhesive bonding the cover glass to the LCD delaminates under normal service, spreading bubbles and haze across the screen. It is widely reported across many coach brands on this chassis (Newmar, Tiffin, Coachmen, Winnebago, Entegra, American Coach) and occurs in cold climates as well as hot - an inherent material defect, not misuse. Safety risk: OptiView puts every primary driving indicator on one screen with no analog backup, so delamination obscures safety-critical information while driving: - Speedometer/tachometer become hard to read on a 30,000-50,000 lb vehicle. - Primary and secondary air-brake pressure gauges and the low-air warning are digital-only; a dropping reservoir or air leak can be masked until the spring brakes apply (FMVSS 121 requires these to stay visible to the driver). - Coolant temp, oil pressure, ABS and brake warnings can be hidden as a fault develops. - The rear/360-degree backup camera view degrades (FMVSS 111 Rear Visibility - the basis for NHTSA Recall 22V281). The failure is progressive and can worsen mid-trip. The manufacturer acknowledges it but calls it cosmetic, quoting about $5,200+ out of warranty for the same failure-prone design. Requested action: Open a defect investigation into OptiView/Medallion cluster delamination across Freightliner Custom Chassis RVs, evaluate under FMVSS 111 and 121, and consider a no-cost recall remedy regardless of warranty status. A detailed report with diagram and citations is attached.