2021 FREIGHTLINER Cascadia Problems & Complaints

TIRE SIZE: 275/80 R22.5 MICHELIN ENERGY LINE Z Component that failed is drivers side steer front tire. The tire blew out and resulted in loss of vehicle control. This failure DID cause an accident putting others safety at risk. Both Freightliner Corp. and Michelin Tire Co. are aware of this failure. No one has inspected the tire. I DO NOT have the tire in my possession yet. There are/were no warning, messages or symptoms of this problem prior to. This truck had a right side tire failure at the decoupling groove on May 11, 2022. The tire was replaced at that time with a new tire tire. This truck returned to Toledo Ohio to our terminal. The 4X4X4 air fairings were then removed at the request of DTNA. On 8-5-22 with 52,742 miles on the tire, it blew out resulting in an accident.

TIRE SIZE: 275/80 R22.5 MICHELIN ENERGY LINE Z Component that failed is the passenger side steer front tire. The inside edge decoupling groove failed. Risks include a potential tire blow resulting in loss of vehicle control. This failure could cause an accident putting others safety at risk. Both Freightliner and Michelin Tire Co. are aware of this failure. Michelin tire representative has visually inspected the tire and asked to have the tire returned to the Michelin Company for further inspection. I have not released the tire to them yet. There are/were no warnings, messages or symptoms of this problem prior to. This truck was built with 4X4X4 front air fairing that was removed after this failure by the request of the Freightliner Corp. The mileage on the tire at the time of failure was, 89,490 miles.

TIRE SIZE: 275/80 R22.5 MICHELIN ENERGY LINE Z Component that failed is drivers side steer front tire. The outside edge decoupling groove/sidewall failed. Risks include potential tire blow resulting in loss of vehicle control. This failure could cause an accident putting others safety at risk. Both Freightliner Corp. and Michelin Tire Co. are aware of this failure. No one has inspected the tire. I have the tire in my possession. There are/were no warning, messages or symptoms of this problem prior to. This truck was built with a 4X4X4 front air fairing that was removed after this failure by the request of Freighliner Corp. Mileage on tire at the time of failure was 165,782 miles.

TIRE SIZE: 275/80 R22.5 MICHELIN ENERGY LINE Z Component that failed is the passenger steer front tire. The outside edge decoupling groove/sidewall failed. Risks include potential tire blow resulting in loss of vehicle control. This failure could cause an accident putting others safety at risk. Both Freightliner Corp. and Michelin Tire Co. are aware of this failure. No one has inspected the tire. I have the tire in my possession. There are/were no warning, messages or symptoms of this problem prior to. This truck was built with a 4X4X4 front air fairing that was removed after this failure by the request of Freighliner Corp. Mileage on tire at the time of failure was 71,000 miles.

TIRE SIZE: 275/80 R22.5 MICHELIN ENERGY LINE Z Component that failed is passenger side steer front tire. The outside edge decoupling groove/sidewall failed. Risks include potential tire blow resulting in loss of vehicle control. This failure could cause an accident putting others safety at risk. Both Freightliner Corp. and Michelin Tire Co. are aware of this failure. No one has inspected the tire. I have the tire in my possession. There are/were no warning, messages or symptoms of this problem prior to. Michelin Tire Co. sent us 2 new tires and requested we remove the air fairing to see if this could resolve the problem. At the time we proceeded with this request the truck had 315,805 miles on it. On 6-20-22 Michelin Tire Co. supplied Freightliner Corp. with a tech bulletin regarding the decoupling groove failure. At 455,485 miles this tire was showing signs of decoupling failure. This failure appeared to be within the guide lines of the tech bulletin. At 465,523 miles the tire showed excessive decoupling groove failure in multiple spots. Mileage on tire at the time of failure was 149,718 miles.

While vehicle approached a hazard blocking the roadway the forward collision and automatic braking feature did not engage; apparently due to the vehicle sensors not recognizing the hazard. The object in the roadway was a 53 ft van trailer that was laid on it's side with the translucent roof facing the approaching vehicle.

I'd like to report the automatic braking device on our company semi tractor. I work for a large mega carrier hauling all types of freight, with triples and doubles combination trailers. We operate with Freightliners, Kenworths, and Internationals. The tractor tractor I use is a 2021 Freightliner equipped with a safety feature, an automatic braking system to avoid collisions for stopped or slowed traffic ahead. The issue is, it randomly brakes with no obstructions ahead. I've seen reports that you guys are looking into this. And I'm also informing you that our trucks deal with this issue as well. There's no defect warnings on the device's monitor system. No previous accidents that would cause issues to the device to have faulty sensor. The problem with the system, it sees a shadow on the road and it thinks theres a stopped vehicle, forcing the truck to hard apply the brakes. This can be extremely dangerous on inclement weather, more so on icy conditions. Few weeks ago, I traveled through the same part of the toll road like I always do, I know this spot activates the brakes 70-85% of the time during the night. That night, my trailers ABS light was on, when I approached the bad spot, all my brakes activated and almost caused my truck to jack-knife, lost full control but didn't crash, nor was anyone near me. But it would've been a different outcome if it was bad weather. When I approach this area, I always turn on my high beams to try to eliminate the shadow on the road. Where this happens: Indiana Toll Road 80-90, Elkhart IN, West bound lanes, right before exit 92. The overpass that causes this shadow is Johnson Street. You can see on Google street maps, where other trucks have had automatic braking activated, from seeing tire marks on the road. The lights around create that shadow at night. I would just like to inform you guys of my experiences. I have also reached out to INDOT about the issue, not sure if they looked into it. Reporting before a crash could happen.

The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH with the cruise control activated, the brakes applied independently. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the calibration of the radar. The vehicle was repaired but experienced the failure within a week. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the radar to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the same failure within a month. The contact took the vehicle back a third time to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the recalibration of the radar. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure intermittently. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 215,000.

When driving, there is a constant and very strong vibration throughout the entirety of the truck. This makes it difficult to steer and drive in a safe manner. I've replaced any parts that might be associated with this malfunction with brand new parts at the advice of professional mechanics (cost over $30,000) and it was to no avail. The truck is still malfunctioning and I have been left unable to work or barely working for 14 months. The vibration has caused many health concerns, like headaches, nausea, and stomach ulcers. I went to over 10 dealers and there has been no solutions that have worked.

My Emplyoer has not fixed anything on the truck, the truck shouldn’t be operating, doesn’t meet DOT Regulations, I was told not to go into any scales or weigh stations, loses air and the air doesn’t build back up properly, I lost all air in my breaks while driving on the road

This complaint is being filed in addition to my previous complaint which is complaint #1147128511471285. Both left and right vehicle airbag suspension height regulators were just replace a month ago, and once again, the right side airbag ride height regulator has blown apart, causing my semi truck to lean heavily to the right side, and wear out my right front steer tire exceedingly fast. And, the radar braking system erratically slams the brakes on at random times, which could cause a catastrophic accident. Imagine hauling an 80,000 lb. load, and the truck just decides to slam on the brakes, in a corner, in the rain, or in the snow. You’re riding a very thin line between life and death. Freightliner will now be sued for negligence, embezzlement, fraud, and loss of use of my truck. My truck just spent 40 days at the Freightliner Dealership for several Factory Safety Recalls, and they just replaced both airbag ride height control vale’s, because they both failed. If this isn’t a clear cut case of the Federal Lemon Law, nothing is.

I purchased a new P4 through my employers Lease Purchase program, and when I ordered my new truck, I ordered it with the Hendrickson Air-Ride Suspension Package for the front axle, disc brakes front and rear, and a few other options. My truck required 14 all axle alignment’s before it was driving correctly, after destroying both left & right steer tires. One Freightliner dealer set the right front at 7/16” toe-in, after I threatened to bring legal action against the dealership, only to learn three weeks later, the toe-in was set at 7/16”, which destroyed the tire. I personally measured the rear axle alignment with a tape measure to find both drive axles are staggered approximately 1.3” to 1.75” causing my drive tires to wear abnormally fast, forcing me to buy new tires for $7,000+. The worst part is the Hendrickson Air Ride Suspension unit is extremely “sloppy” and noisy when driving and turning at all speeds, constantly making loud “clunking” sounds, which are all felt heavily while hold the steering wheel. Nobody seems to want anything to do with my new truck, and if I get killed while driving my truck, because of faulty manufacturing, at least you have a record of my case to investigate further. I just learned yesterday from another driver, that Freightliner just discovered their trucks with the Hendrickson Air Ride Suspension System option have all been issued a “Service Bulletin” to replace faulty, leaking ride-height control valves which can cause a catastrophic crash by suddenly dropping one or both sides of the front air suspension, causing a sudden swerving condition, which can be catastrophic. My truck cost me $180,000 plus, and I want my monies worth, before I’m killed by faulty craftsmanship. Please investigate this matter, as I know there are many more drivers and owners who are experiencing these same manufacturing defects.

Upon driving this truck for the first time, previous trucks were Kenworth and Peterbilt, it quickly came to my attention that the passenger side door mirror housing blocks drivers view when scanning to the right before entering a roadway. I the affected area extends from the front of the A-pillar to the outside of the mirror housing. When this model was designed the mirror housing that attaches to the door was swept back for asthetic reasons I am guessing. This creates a dangerous situation since a lot of the drivers are placed in this particular model when they first start driving. If I was to purchase this particular model, I would immediately replace the mirror with one that was positioned 90 degrees to the door as both the older Freightliner and the trucks mentioned above are. I am not sure how this particular change was approved unless it was tested in a static environment. Please look into this, but the only way to experience what I am describing is too test it in as close to a real world environment as possible.