2012 Freightliner M2 recalls and problems
The 2012 Freightliner M2 has 9 safety recalls and 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Freightliner dealer.
Recalls may cover only some 2012 Freightliner M2 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.
2012 Freightliner M2 recalls
Recall 19V-370: Service Brakes, Air
Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2004-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Cascadia, Columbia, Classic, FL80, FLD 120SD, Business Class M2, Western Star 4700, 4900, 6900, Sterling Acterra, L7500, LT7500, L8500, LT8500, L9500, and LT9500 vehicles. The vehicles may have an insufficient service brake air reservoir capacity. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: An insufficient air reservoir volume may reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will add air reservoir capacity to the affected vehicles. Owner letters were mailed on November 29, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-815.
Recall 15V-343: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2016 Freightliner 114SD and M2 Business Class trucks, 2008-2009 Sterling LT8500 trucks and Thomas Built Bus Saf-T-Liner HDX transit buses equipped with certain Cummins Westport ISL G engines. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.
Risk: If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Cummins will notify owners on behalf of DTNA, and dealers will secure the ends of the 90-degree elbow. In addition, the electronic control module (ECM) will be reprogrammed with software that can adjust the engine output under misfire conditions to limit crankcase pressures. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000 or Cummins customer service at 1-800-343-7357. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-681.
Recall 15V-220: Exterior Lighting, Service Brakes, Air
Problem: Fontaine Modification (Fontaine) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Freightliner M2 trucks manufactured January 2, 2006, to January 23, 2015 and modified by Fontaine to have dual steering. Brake lights of the affected vehicles will not illuminate if the primary brake air supply is depleted below 6 psi. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: If the primary brake air system fails causing the truck to rely on the secondary brake air system, the brakes lights may not illuminate when the brakes are applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Fontaine will notify owners, and dealers will install a repair kit to resolve the issue, free of charge. The recallbegan on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Fontaine customer service at 1-800-366-8246.
Recall 15V-112: Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Problem: Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling various specialty vehicles modified by Farber and equipped with model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Fix: Farber will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Farber's number for this recall is 14E-041.
Recall 14V-680: Fuel System, Other, Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: Daimler Trucks of North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Freightliner Cascadia and M2 trucks manufactured June 2, 2011 to October 23, 2014. The vehicles are not in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 303, "Fuel System Integrity Of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles." Specifically, the tail pipe on these vehicles terminates under the compressed natural gas (CNG) tank and can overheat the fuel system.
Risk: Due to the area of its placement, the exhaust system forces heat around, and may overheat, the fuel system components, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will extend the tailpipe beyond the cabinet, free of charge. The recall began Feburary 12, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-671.
Recall 14V-080: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (Daimler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2015 Freightliner 114SD, Cascadia, M2 Business Class, Sterling LT8500, and Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX vehicles manufactured February 19, 2008, through February 11, 2014, and equipped with Cummins Westport Model ISL G and Cummins Westport Model ISX12 G engines. Condensation in the intake manifold may freeze during cold weather conditions and interfere with the proper operation of the intake manifold pressure sensor.
Risk: The sensor malfunction could induce elevated exhaust temperatures or flames from the exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire or burn injury to a person near the exhaust pipe.
Fix: Cummins and Cummins Westport will notify owners, and authorized Cummins service facilities will upload a new ECM calibration, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2014. Customers may contact Daimler at 1-800-385-4357 or Cummins Inc. at 1-800-343-7357. Daimler's number for this recall is FL-660.
Recall 11V-465: Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Problem: Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 freightliner business class m2, cascadia, century, columbia, coronado and sterling a-line vehicles built with meritor wabco electronic stability control (Esc) system manufactured from september 15, 2005 through september 1, 2011. Under certain road and driving conditions, vehicle body roll and road inclination characteristics may adversely affect the slip angle calculation of the electronic stability control (Esc) system. This might cause the ESC to perceive an over steering situation and therefore apply the outer wheel brake on the front axle until the vehicle is perceived to be stable.
Risk: If the driver is slow to react during this ESC intervention, the vehicle may deviate from the intended line of travel increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Daimler trucks will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ESC module with the appropriate software version as necessary, free of charge. An interim owner notification will be mailed on or about november 21, 2011. The date for availability of the final remedy is subject to validation testing and parts availability. The safety recall began on march 28, 2012. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1-800-547-0712.
Recall 11V-455: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: Daimler trucks north america is recalling certain model year 2005 through 2012 freightliner m2, sterling acterra, 7500 & 8500, and thomas built hdx vehicles manufactured from june 23, 2004, through march 15, 2011, equipped with specific mbe900 epa04 and epa07 model engines. The intake air grid heater may short circuit and fail due to excessive internal temperatures.
Risk: A short circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Daimler trucks will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. Repairs will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities. The safety recall began on september 12, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1-800-547-0712. This recall is an expansion of a previous recall, campaign number 10v-341.
Recall 11V-257: Power Train
Problem: Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 freightliner cascadia, m2, and western star 4900 vehicles, manufactured from january 11, 2011, through february 21, 2011, and equipped with a meritor driveline. The tubing used to assemble the affected drivelines has a nonconforming seam weld with insufficient bonding of the material.
Risk: A tube seam weld that is not properly bonded can result in the driveline assembly fracturing along the length of the tube seam weld. The fractured tube can twist or sever. This could result in additional damage to the driveline, the vehicle to which it is attached and any additional nearby components. This may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the drivelines free of charge. The safety recall began on june 27, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
2012 Freightliner M2 problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 1 | |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 1 | |
| Engine | 1 | |
| Unknown or Other | 1 |
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 430,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2012 Freightliner M2 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Other Freightliner M2 years
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Freightliner M2 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2012 Freightliner M2: 19V-370 (service brakes, air), 15V-343 (engine and engine cooling), 15V-220 (exterior lighting, service brakes, air), 15V-112 (equipment adaptive/mobility), 14V-680 (fuel system, other, engine and engine cooling) and more. Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Freightliner M2?
Owners report suspension problems most often (1 reports), followed by electronic stability control (esc) (1). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 430,000 miles.
Are Freightliner recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Freightliner dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.