Portland, OR – July 26 , 2021 – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF), which owns Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), is recalling 122,056 heavy-duty trucks with battery cables that could break. This would cause the vehicle to stall, upping the risk of a crash or injury. This recall includes the following vehicles:
- 2019 – 2022 Freightliner Cascadia
- 2021 – 2022 Western Star 49X
- 2021 Western Star WH126
- 2020 Western Star WJ121
The affected parts are positive and negative power cables, with part numbers not available.
Recall summary
The vehicles that are affected by this recall have battery cables that are made from aluminum and brass. In recalled trucks, the battery cable terminal connected to the vehicle frame may break or separate because the the bond between the two materials – that are incompatible – was not properly sealed, allowing debris to get through and damage the cables.
This could result in a loss of electrical power which in turn would cause the engine to stall.
Risks
Unexpected and sudden engine shutdown while driving can lead to potentially dangerous situations, especially when traveling at high-speed or in heavy traffic. Specifically, the truck may be hit from behind by other motorists, increasing the risk of injury for everyone involved.
Other Daimler Trucks recalls
Over 8,000 2020 and 2021 Freightliner Cascadia trucks are subject to a June recall due to possible loss of steering, as reported. These and several other model years were also recently recalled due to an increased fire risk, also as reported.
The repair
To fix the issue, Daimler dealers will check the aluminum battery cables and repair or replace them with conventional copper ones if needed. The repair is free of charge. Notifications will be sent to owners on August 23.
Is your vehicle part of this recall?
This Daimler Trucks recall includes more than 120,000 heavy-duty trucks and several brands. To see if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
