Daimler Trucks North America Recall: Brake Light Failure

Daimler Trucks North America Issues Recall Due to Brake Light Failure

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has announced a safety recall affecting several models due to a brake light failure that could significantly increase the risk of accidents. The recall, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), involves a total of 16,889 vehicles across multiple Freightliner and Western Star models.

Daimler Trucks Models Affected by the Recall

The recall targets various Freightliner and Western Star trucks, including:

• 2024-2025 Freightliner 108SD
• 2022-2025 Freightliner 114SD
• 2022-2025 Freightliner Business Class M2
• 2025 Freightliner eM2
• 2021-2025 Western Star 47X
• 2020-2025 Western Star 49X
• 2022-2025 Western Star 57X

These vehicles, when equipped with a body lighting interface controller and replacement brake lights, may fail to illuminate the brake lights during an active brake assist (ABA) event. This issue can create dangerous driving conditions, as trailing vehicles might not be alerted to a truck’s sudden deceleration, raising the risk of a collision.

The Potential Risk

DTNA’s recall notice highlights a critical safety concern: brake lights that fail to illuminate when the ABA system activates. This means that if the truck’s braking system automatically applies the brakes, the brake lights may not signal to other drivers that the vehicle is slowing down. A failure to alert following traffic of a reduction in speed could lead to rear-end collisions, particularly in high-traffic situations.

Recall Process and Remedy

To address this issue, Daimler Trucks North America will offer a software update for the ABA system, provided to affected truck owners free of charge. The company plans to begin notifying owners via mail starting November 9, 2024. Truck owners are advised to contact DTNA’s customer service at 800-745-8000, referencing the recall number F1009, to schedule repairs.

Additionally, owners who may have already incurred costs related to this issue before the official recall can be reimbursed under DTNA’s reimbursement program. The program complies with federal regulations requiring manufacturers to provide remedies for safety defects within a reasonable time frame.

Next Steps for Affected Owners of Daimler Trucks

Affected truck owners should be on the lookout for the official recall letter from Daimler Trucks North America. Once notified, owners are encouraged to visit their nearest DTNA dealer for the necessary repairs. For further assistance, the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline can be reached at 1-888-327-4236, or owners can visit the website at www.safercar.gov.