Freightliner Cascadia Complaints (2019)

29 consumer complaints on file.

#11765736September 21, 2026
SUSPENSION
I am purchasing this vehicle from a fleet sales in Pa and the left cab shock and 4 rear shock absorbers on the rear suspension I believe are severely compromised and I'm being told that they are unsure if these items are listed under DOT inspection and I am asking to have them replaced upon my purchasing of the vehicle. Will these severely rusted and damaged components passed a federal DOT inspection? I also see that they failed to have the recall repaired. Schneider Truck Sales in Harrisburg, PA is whom I am trying to purchase this vehicle from and I expressed to them that I believe these items should be replaced and repaired.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11634519January 7, 2025
ENGINE
I am writing to bring to your attention a potentially dangerous situation caused by what I believe to be a manufacturer design flaw with the SS 1034797 M2, 108SD, 114SD Coolant Level Sensor P/N 06-93316-002. On [XXX], one of our trucks (VIN: [XXX]) experienced a low coolant warning and an automatic engine shutdown while traveling on the interstate in a construction zone. As you can imagine, the sudden stoppage of a tractor-trailer in the traffic lanes of a freeway presents an extremely hazardous situation, not only for our driver but for all motorists in the vicinity. For us as a motor carrier, this is compounded by the likelihood of legal liability resulting from any collision involving a stationary truck in such conditions. The root cause of this incident appears to be the failure of the magnet within the surge tank to maintain its buoyancy. When the magnet sinks to the bottom of the tank, it signals the engine control module (ECM) that the coolant level is critically low, triggering an engine shutdown. While I understand the intent is to protect the engine from potential damage, this design flaw creates an unacceptably dangerous scenario—especially since, in many cases, the engine is not actually at risk of damage. In this instance, I instructed the driver to unplug and after a 15-minute period, he restarted the truck and drove to a nearby truck stop. Remarkably, the truck remains operational without the sensor repair, further underscoring the superficial nature of this issue. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. We have encountered similar sensor failures across our fleet, but this particular event was the most severe. While I am not an engineer, it seems logical that the coolant level sensor should be paired with a high-temperature reading before an engine shutdown is initiated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11617194September 30, 2024
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
While approaching an overpass the collision mitigation system activated my brakes nearly causing the vehicle behind me to rear end my trailer, hit my brakes so hard i was thrown forward.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11610330August 22, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My 2019 Freightliner Cascadia forward collision brakes activates automatically while on the road without any other vehicle nearby, airbrake malfunction (not released appropriately and fully released) and extremely fuel consumption.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11591674May 31, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Truck will apply brakes when no objects or vehicles are around. It is very scary and unexpected when the system does this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11580899April 3, 2024
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
The contact owns a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance feature engaged inadvertently. Recently, the contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the brake assist system engaged after a plastic bag flew by the vehicle. The Forward Collision Avoidance alarm sounded during the failure. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the feature could not be deactivated. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 254,180.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11534282July 25, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact owns a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60–70 MPH, the brake assist system engaged without an object nearby. While depressing the brake pedal, the system released and reset. The Forward Collision Avoidance alarm sounded. The contact called the local dealer and was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 200,674.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11530515July 5, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My truck just came to a screeching halt on the interstate with no obstacles in front of it. It nearly caused a major accident. I could not override it. I was approaching an overpass approximately 100 yards away. Collision warning lights went on. Horn started beeping and brakes engaged immediately.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11530075July 3, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
This complaint comes from a private truck fleet operating over 700 trucks experiencing excessive amounts of false positive emergency braking and/or haptic following distance warnings (brake stab) on 2018-2020 Freightliner Classis Cascadia tractors. The system experiencing the highest incidents are equipped with the Wabco OnGuard Collision Mitigation System. Some of these false positives have resulted in neck and shoulder injuries. False positives occur while approaching bridge overpasses and other road objects such as steel plates or overhead signs. Wabco has been contacted and state the system is discontinued and outdated so no support or fixes is offered other than a single software upgrade. All units have received the software update but still experience false positives. These unexpected false positive occurrences have resulted in injuries, potential loss of control, and accident risks to other motorists. Although false positives have occurred and continue to occur since first receiving trucks with this technology in 2018, the first injury occurred on 3/3/2022. The system should be recalled to provide a solution to the excessive false positives.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11504208January 28, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
This Truck that I'm buying from USCryo Carriers that is a Freightliner has been in the shop numerous times for electrical issues and lighting issues and body and tires problems and they have yet to fix them and get them properly repaired and the Truck is shocking me while driving and whenever laying in the bunkso much it hurts and causes headaches I pay insurance and for the truck, but my company is steady making me pay all repairs even though I have insurance
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11501179January 11, 2023
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Engine caught fire on drivers side.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11479098August 13, 2022
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Cruise control will shut off and then engage again on its own. It will have a hard time to disengage at times. Lane departure goes off when there is nothing there. The collision warning system goes off a lot. Locked up the brakes in the rain causing a slide. Locked up on ice almost causing a jackknife. Then this summer it has locked up when nothing is around. Came to a complete stop, then not releasing the brakes for a few seconds. Luckily, no one was around. It has been in for repair several times. It is in the shop now. I lease this vehicle from Penske. They refuse to give me a safe truck.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11470963June 25, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES
Reference no, 11354207. I called the US department of transportation on September 10, 2022 to report the braking failure on my truck that cost my driver his life. I've since called them a couple of times, but have not heard back from them. There have been multiple other reports where the same brake failure occurred, but there has not been any other follow up.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#11453359February 22, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
ABS AND TRACTION control failed. Because of this, the $ 7,000 automatic collision avoidance system is not working. 300.000 miles on 2019 truck is just ridiculous.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11440871November 18, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION, STEERING
:steering. Yes :was unable to steer properly into a curve in road, resulting in truck slamming into ditch. :no :yes :no incident occurred 10/29/2021. we never received any indication of issues until weeks after. upon looking further into the recall we saw that the notices were set to be sent out 10/30/2021. one day after incident. furthermore we also see another recall that was never fixed from 9/20, of which we never were sent any info on and remains not addressed per this website. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11438333October 27, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
The contact owns a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the led headlights dimmed, and the contact was unable to see the roadway. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that there was no recall on the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 375,767.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354198September 10, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354207September 10, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#11338342July 9, 2020
STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
POWER STEERING PUMP WAS BAD SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. NOW IT TAKES A LOT OF STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEELS WHEN I PARK ( LOW RPM) THE DEALER CHERGED ME OVER $ 350 AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. JUNK !! IT FEELS LIKE IS LOCKING UP EVEN ON HIGHWAYS WHEN ENGINE CRUISES AT LOW RPM 2 : HEADLIGHTS BAD DESIGN . THE LED / TURN SIGNAL : THE BULB ITSELF IS AN LED LIGHT, BUT IS WAY TO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC BARS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT, AND THAT CAUSES BURNS IN THE PLASTIC , RESULTING IN A VERY DIM TURN LIGHT SIGNAL AND DAY LIGHT DRIVING LIGHTS . THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO BUY ANOTHER HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CRAP ALSO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11320459April 7, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING
THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY SPEED 65 MPH WHEAT ROAD SURFACE, SUDDENLY THE TRUCK STEER TO THE LEFT WHEN THE DRIVER TRIES TO CORRECT THE TRUCK IN A STRAIGHT POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT RESPONDING, AFTER A FRACTION OF THE SECOND THE TRUCK TURN TO RIGHT CROSSING 2 LINE TRAVELING HIT THE RAILS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND END UP INTO A TREE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Freightliner Cascadia