FREIGHTLINER Complaints

IGNITION SWITCH TURN SIGNAL HEATER BLOWER BRAKE LIGHTS TURNED SIGNALS ALL STOP WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S THE SAM CAB MODULAR ELECTRICAL WENT BAD. SHOULD I SAY A VERY BAD DESIGN😒 I'M HOPING IT'S A RECALL ON THIS PART. I MUST ADD EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION

FOR 1 1/2 YEARS I HAVE GONE TO THE LOCAL DEALER WITH THE COMPLAINT THAT IF THE ROADWAY IS WET AND IT'S NECESSARY TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WILL PULL SHARPLY AND HARD TO THE LEFT. THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE "FIXES"; NONE HAVE SOLVED THE ISSUE. FREIGHTLINER CORP HAS BEEN DIRECTING THE DEALER WITH PROCEDURES TO TRY AND NONE OF THEM SOLVE THE ISSUE. CURRENTLY, MY TRUCK HAS BEEN AT FREIGHTLINER NW, OLYMPIA, WA FOR NEARLY 10 DAYS WHILE I PAY FOR A RENTAL TRUCK TO MEET MY CUSTOMER'S NEEDS. AS OF TODAY, FREIGHTLINER IS BAFFLED AND IS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER IDEA TO TRY. APPARENTLY THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INSTANCE OF THIS SITUATION. LAST MONTH WHEN I SPOKE WITH A REP, IT WAS STATED THAT "THERE WAS A RECENT DIRECTIVE" FOR ANOTHER PROCEDURE TO USE FOR THIS COMPLAINT. I'M NOT NEW TO THIS OCCUPATION AS I'VE DRIVEN AND/OR OWNED MY OWN TRACTOR FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I'VE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND NOT BE SOLVABLE. THE INTENSITY OF THE STEERING WHEEL BEING PULLED TO THE LEFT IS SUCH THAT I WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK IF IT IS RAINING. I BELIEVE IT WOULD JERK IT FROM HER CONTROL. IT IS NOT A STEERING MECHANISM ISSUE AS IT ONLY DOES THIS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND WET ROADWAY. I'VE LOOKED BACK IN MY RECORDS AND I SEE MY INITIAL COMPLAINT WAS MADE IN MAY, 2019

2015 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. CONSTITUENT STATED THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ISSUES WITH TRUCK, SPECIFICALLY AN ONGOING ELECTRICAL ISSUE BASED UPON A LEAK GETTING INTO VEHICLE DAMAGING ELECTRICAL LINES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED FUEL LEAKS FROM THE TOP OF BOTH TANKS, ISSUES WITH E-COAST SYSTEM, REFRIGERATOR RATTLES, UTILITY REAR LIGHT ISSUES, TRANSMISSION LOW AIR ISSUES, COOLANT RESERVOIR, FUEL GAUGE, OIL LEAKING, BRAKING ISSUES, CLIMATE CONTROL ISSUES, FRONT GRILL, CIGARETTE LIGHTER ISSUES, AND HOOD SUPPORT ISSUES. *JS

HAD SAME ISSUES ON 2018-2020 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIAS (7 DIFFERENT UNITS), CHASSIS HARNESS RUBBING AGAINST TRANSMISSION AND THE METAL BRACKET BY THE AIR COMPRESSOR. ACTIVE FAULT CODES FOR COOLANT LEVEL , TCS, TRANSMISSION ECU - DRIVERS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE ON AUTOMATIC MODE/ ONLY MANUAL MODE AVAILABLE. ONE TIME THE DRIVER WAS NOT EVEN ABLE TO START THE TRUCK IN THE MORNING, HAD TO GET THE UNIT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THE HARNESS REPAIRED. ALL OF THE FAULTS PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED COULD HAPPEN IN MOTION AND/OR WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

POWER NET DISTRIBUTION BOX LOSING POWER SHUTS TRUCK OFF WHILE DRIVING ANY DRIVING CONDITION ANY AREA

AT 5,600 MILES, TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON I-68 IN WESTERN MARYLAND NEAR EXIT 62. SPRINTER DANGEROUSLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED RAPIDLY SHIFTED GEARS. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND DRIFTED TO AN OFF RAMP. DASH LIGHTS INDICATED THREE PROBLEMS ABS, SWERVE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL. SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND RESTARTED - SAME RESULT. DISCONNECTED BATTERY THEN RECONNECTED - SAME RESULT. CONNECTED A SCANNER WHICH INDICATED RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. CONTACTED SELLING DEALER SHOP MANAGER AND WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NO WORK-AROUND AND STATED I SHOULD HAVE IT TOWED TO NEAREST FREIGHTLINER DEALER IN APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES AWAY. AFTER DRIVING VERY SLOWLY TO A SAFE AREA, I INSPECTED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND NOTED TWO CONNECTORS ON EACH SIDE, CHECKED FOR TIGHTNESS AND INSPECTED THE WIRING FOR DAMAGE, BUT NONE OBSERVED. AFTER CHECKING BLOGS ON MY SMART PHONE, I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SPRINTERS FROM 2010 TO 2017 AND COMMENTERS NOTED THAT MERCEDES STATES THE VENDORS CHANGED ALLOYS ON THE SENSORS AS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. TYPICAL REPAIR COSTS WERE INDICATED TO BE $350 TO $400, AND MANY COMMENTERS STATED THEY HAD PAID FOR MULTIPLE SENSORS AND ONE COMMENTER STATED THE ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN HIS CASE FOLLOWING SEVERAL SENSOR REPLACEMENTS. BOTTOM LINE, MERCEDES NEEDS TO OWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURE AND REPLACE ALL FOUR SENSORS WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNERS (AKA RECALL). THE DANGEROUS UNWANTED ACCELERATION COULD COST LIVES AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF SERVICE TFN AWAITING SELLING DEALER RESPONSE.

DRIVER PARKED ON A HILL AND PUT THE VAN IN PARK. EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE 15 SECS BEFORE HE HEARD A POP AND A GRIND AND SMELLED AN ODOR. HE TURNED AND WATCHED HIS VAN ROLL DOWN A HILL INTO TWO PARKED CARS. IT WAS PARK (STATIONARY) ON A CITY STREET AND UNOCCUPIED.

WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VAN NEW FROM THE DEALER, I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THE KNOWN POWER STEERING HOSE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THAT ONE OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID HOSES IS TOO SHORT & IT WORKS ITS WAY OUT OF POSITION UNTIL IT POPS OFF & FLUID SPRAYS OUT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. I KNEW ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE. I WENT BACK FOR SERVICE A YEAR LATER & SHOWED THEM THE HOSE SLIPPING OFF, THEY DID NOT CARE & DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. DESPITE ME DILIGENTLY CHECKING & REPOSITIONING THE HOSE WHENEVER IT STARTED TO SLIP OUT OF PLACE, WHICH WAS VERY FREQUENTLY, IT FINALLY POPPED OFF ON US WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON A NARROW TWISTY HIGHWAY & WE LOST STEERING CONTROL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO, TAKEN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, YOU CAN SEE THE LOWER HOSE OUT OF POSITION, IT SHOULD BE WHERE THE UPPER HOSE IS RELATIVE TO THE METAL PIPE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA 126. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AN EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE AXLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER COULD PARK ON THE SIDE ROAD AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CONTACT STATED NO POLICE OR FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER VELOCITY TRUCK CENTERS - WHITTIER LOCATED AT 2429 PECK RD, WHITTIER, CA 90601, (562) 447-1200, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A WHEEL SEAL AND WHEEL CALIPER TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED ON THE AUGUST 28,2020, BASED ON THE POLICE REPORT, WHILE HIS EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, WHEN THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE HIGH RAIL GUARD FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THE DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED AT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THE CRASH WAS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V390000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR) ON AUGUST 31,2020. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN ATTEMPTED TO CALL BUT NO ONE ANSWERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,047.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AN EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V390000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR) AND HAD THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED AT HOUSTON FREIGHTLINER LOCATED AT 9550 N LOOP E FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77029. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 247,062.