Daimler recalls trucks that could pull to the side when braking

Irvine, CA – April 9, 2023 – Daimler (OTCMKTS: DMLRY), which owns Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), is recalling 69,246 heavy-duty trucks because they may pull to a side when braking. This increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

The list of affected vehicles includes the following trucks: 

  • 2022 Freightliner 114SD
  • 2017 – 2023 Freightliner Cascadia 
  • 2022 – 2023 Western Star 47X
  • 2022 – 2023 Western Star 49X

Recall summary  

All listed trucks have a safety feature called Electronic Stability Control (ESP), which keeps the car stable by applying brakes when it determines that the driver needs help keeping the car on course.

This is achieved by the so-called brake modulator valves, which regulate the pressure which is applied to brakes on individual wheels.

In the affected vehicles, moisture may cause corrosion within these valves. This may result in the vehicle suddenly being pulled to the side when braking without any action on the part of the driver.

Recall risks

The defect increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

Warning signs

If the ESP malfunctions, an ABS warning light may appear on the dashboard. 

Other Daimler recalls

This is the latest in the series of Freightliner recalls caused by trucks pulling to the side. Just recently, in November 2022, more than 200,000 trucks were affected by a similar issue

In addition, fly-away hoods were the reason for one of the recent Western Star recall, which took place in September 2022

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will replace the modulator valve with an upgraded one, which should not be prone to corrosion. The repair is free of charge.

Owners will be notified on April 10, 2023. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Almost 70,000 trucks are being recalled over these DTNA brake issues. To do a DTNA recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicDaimler recalls trucks that could pull to the side when braking

Daimler recalls trucks that may pull to side when braking

Irvine, CA – November 16, 2022 – Daimler (OTCMKTS:DMLRY), which owns Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), is recalling 218,147 heavy-duty trucks because they may pull to a side when braking. This increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

This recall supersedes and expands one conducted in 2020 for the same reason. The affected vehicles will need a new repair.

The following trucks are included in the latest round: 

  • 2021 Freightliner 108SD
  • 2022 Freightliner 114SD
  • 2020 – 2022 Freightliner Business Class M2
  • 2017 – 2023 Freightliner Cascadia 
  • 2021 – 2023 Western Star 47X
  • 2020 – 2023 Western Star 49X
  • 2021 – 2022 Western Star 57X  

Recall summary  

All listed trucks are equipped with a device called Adaptive Cruise Control, or ACC. This comfort and safety feature monitors the road ahead and slows down the vehicle if needed by traffic conditions. On affected vehicles, corrosion within a control module that operates this system may cause the brake force applied to the front wheels to be uneven. As a result, the truck may pull to one side when the ACC activates the brakes to slow it down. Regular brakes the driver applies by pressing the pedal are not affected. 

The component causing this recall is the quick release pneumatic valve, with part numbers  WAB472 196 037 0 and WAB472 196 025 0. 

Recall risks

Uneven brake force may cause the vehicle to suddenly change its direction, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

Background of the recall

Over 164,000 Freightliner Cascadia trucks were recalled for the same issue in July 2020. The manufacturer replaced the affected unpainted valves with painted ones to prevent corrosion. However, in September 2022, it received reports of repaired trucks pulling to the side while braking. On the back of the claims, Daimler decided to conduct another recall which affects both the U.S. and Canada.

Warning signs

The driver may notice the ABS light come on the dashboard,

Other DTNA recalls

A vehicle that pulls to the side while braking may be difficult to control, but so does one whose steering wheel falls off. And this is what happened to certain trucks made by DTNA, which were repaired in Freightliner recalls in June 2022 due to potential loss of steering.

Furthermore, the manufacturer recently recalled some of its buses because their roofs may detach in an event of a crash

The repair

Dealers will fix the problem by replacing the modulator valve with an upgraded one, which should not be prone to corrosion. The repair is free of charge.

Owners will be notified on December 30, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 200,000 trucks are being recalled over these DTNA brake issues. To do a DTNA recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. You can do the same to check all current Western Star recalls. 

Bojan PopicDaimler recalls trucks that may pull to side when braking