FREIGHTLINER Complaints

Wednesday 13 July, 2022 6:45pm PDT. Location US395 Lakeview, OR. Collision Avoidance System(CAS) applied maximum AEB braking for a false detection of obstruction in my travel lane. I was following a pickup and horse trailer at about 45mph. The pickup signaled a left turn and slowed. I applied minimum braking. The pickup and trailer turned clearing my travel lane(the tail end of the trailer was in the opposing lane). At this moment the CAS detected a collision warning(I was still applying some braking) and the AEB slammed on the brakes for about half second then canceled. The CAS has falsely detects numerous incidents a day for the 7 months I have driven this truck. The above incident has been the most severe. Other false incidents range from warning(without braking), cutting power to engine, to applying some amount of braking. At NO TIME during this period did the CAS detected a true obstruction. Manufacturer has checked that truck's system software is current and properly calibrated.

After experiencing numerous issues with Jost 5th wheels, specifically JSK36N model. The Wear ring bolts (NT0000005) are constantly getting loose making the Wear ring (SK 2105-19) move in the 5th wheel plate, what we consider unsafe. While working on hundreds of trucks we have noticed that this is this issue is very popular. The drivers have been complaining about the trailer king pin being loose in the 5th wheel, causing a hit/push on start/stop when driven in combination (truck + trailer). Because of not having the solid connection, the ‘’hits’’ are affecting the drivetrain (differentials and transmission) on the long run. Some on the drivers are panicking and not concentrated on the road, all because feeling unsafe due to the excessive 5th wheel free play. After the detailed inspection and understanding the problem, our technicians replaced hundreds of the Ring bolts, applied thread locker and torqued properly. Unfortunately the issue comes back again. The only way to get this issue resolved is to replace the whole 5th wheel assembly. This can get very pricy considering that the replacement of the 5th wheel costs thousands of dollars. It hardly hurts the bigger fleets. The situation described above was noticed mostly on 2017-2019 Freightliner Cascadia’s

Attached to this is the federal certification label for an Ultra Liner 45 built on the Freightliner chassis. Executive Coach Builders is building this bus, National Bus Sales is selling this bus to schools in Oklahoma and Texas. The states have allowed that, but as an OEM that goes against what is currently allowed.

The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner Cascadia equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: X, Tire Size: 275/80/R25.5, DOT Number: (Not Available). The contact stated upon inspecting the tires, he noticed that the decoupling groove was peeling off on the passenger's side front tire. The passenger's side front tire was replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 112,814. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred on the driver's front side tire. The tire was replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 160,375. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's side tire blew out inadvertently. The driver depressed the brake pedal and stopped the vehicle. The driver was then able to veer to the side of the road with the assistance of the State Police. The tire was replaced on site. The tire failure mileage was 496,000. The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer who replaced the front passenger's side tire with a new tire. The tire manufacturer was notified of the failure and inquired about performing an analysis of the damaged tires. The vehicle manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 326,168.

The contact owns a 2020 Freightliner Cascadia equipped with Bridgestone Tires, Tire Line: Ecopia M760, Tire Size: 295/75/R22.5, DOT Number: Y7BT3MJ3719. The contact stated while driving approximately 72 MPH, he looked in the rearview mirror and noticed the tire was shredded from the passenger’s side second axle inside. The tire had experienced a blowout. The contact drove safely to the side of the highway. The contact then drove a little further to an area to park the vehicle safely. The contact changed the tire himself and drove to an independent mechanic where the tire was replaced. The contact kept the blowout tire. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The tire was the original tire. The approximate failure mileage was 245,000.

I purchased a new P4 through my employers Lease Purchase program, and when I ordered my new truck, I ordered it with the Hendrickson Air-Ride Suspension Package for the front axle, disc brakes front and rear, and a few other options. My truck required 14 all axle alignment’s before it was driving correctly, after destroying both left & right steer tires. One Freightliner dealer set the right front at 7/16” toe-in, after I threatened to bring legal action against the dealership, only to learn three weeks later, the toe-in was set at 7/16”, which destroyed the tire. I personally measured the rear axle alignment with a tape measure to find both drive axles are staggered approximately 1.3” to 1.75” causing my drive tires to wear abnormally fast, forcing me to buy new tires for $7,000+. The worst part is the Hendrickson Air Ride Suspension unit is extremely “sloppy” and noisy when driving and turning at all speeds, constantly making loud “clunking” sounds, which are all felt heavily while hold the steering wheel. Nobody seems to want anything to do with my new truck, and if I get killed while driving my truck, because of faulty manufacturing, at least you have a record of my case to investigate further. I just learned yesterday from another driver, that Freightliner just discovered their trucks with the Hendrickson Air Ride Suspension System option have all been issued a “Service Bulletin” to replace faulty, leaking ride-height control valves which can cause a catastrophic crash by suddenly dropping one or both sides of the front air suspension, causing a sudden swerving condition, which can be catastrophic. My truck cost me $180,000 plus, and I want my monies worth, before I’m killed by faulty craftsmanship. Please investigate this matter, as I know there are many more drivers and owners who are experiencing these same manufacturing defects.

Reference no, 11354207. I called the US department of transportation on September 10, 2022 to report the braking failure on my truck that cost my driver his life. I've since called them a couple of times, but have not heard back from them. There have been multiple other reports where the same brake failure occurred, but there has not been any other follow up.

Upon driving this truck for the first time, previous trucks were Kenworth and Peterbilt, it quickly came to my attention that the passenger side door mirror housing blocks drivers view when scanning to the right before entering a roadway. I the affected area extends from the front of the A-pillar to the outside of the mirror housing. When this model was designed the mirror housing that attaches to the door was swept back for asthetic reasons I am guessing. This creates a dangerous situation since a lot of the drivers are placed in this particular model when they first start driving. If I was to purchase this particular model, I would immediately replace the mirror with one that was positioned 90 degrees to the door as both the older Freightliner and the trucks mentioned above are. I am not sure how this particular change was approved unless it was tested in a static environment. Please look into this, but the only way to experience what I am describing is too test it in as close to a real world environment as possible.

ELD disconnected by a not yet qualified driver. Driver ID known, vehicle known but the location of the vehicle unknown. We are not able to locate the vehicle and by the conduct of the driver we believe he can be a threat on the road.

Freightliner cascadia shuts off while traveling on the highway at highway speeds this is due to a faulty main pndb