Freightliner recall query RQ12001
PDM Failures. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this recall query about the electrical system on 3 model years (2007). Opened Dec 7, 2012, closed Apr 16, 2013 after 4 months without a recall. closed
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedODI opened this investigation based on Early Warning Reporting (EWR) data screening activities that indicated that numerous PDMs failed on 2007 M2 vehicles that were not part of the manufacturer's voluntary recall, 08V-154. The information available during the screening effort did not differentiate PDMs controlling trailer lighting from other PDMs used on the vehicle. ODI opened this investigation in order to collect additional information and ensure the scope of the original recall was appropriate. Recall 08V-154 was limited to trailer PDMs located on the fuel tank bracket. M2 vehicles utilized a total of eight locations to mount the trailer PDM. When comparing the warranty claims for each of the locations separately, the claim rate for the recalled population is over 3 times higher than the non-recalled population with other mounting locations. After seven years of service and no known crashes, fires or injuries, the data suggests that when mounted in the locations not included in the original recall, the subject PDM does not pose an unreasonable risk to highway safety at this time. For this reason, this investigation is closed and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists in the subject vehicles. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
A Recall Query is a look at a recall that already exists — whether its remedy works, whether it reached every vehicle it should have, whether the manufacturer met its obligations. The summary is the agency’s own text from its investigation file, unedited; the opening and closing resumes with the full reasoning are on NHTSA’s site under this number.
What this means for an owner
Source: and what happens nextAn investigation is not a finding that a defect exists, and it puts no duty on anyone. NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation when complaints and other reports suggest a condition worth asking the manufacturer about; it upgrades to an Engineering Analysis when the answers warrant testing; it closes either when it recommends a recall, when the manufacturer recalls on its own, or when no defect trend is found. The agency’s own goals are about four months for a petition, eight for a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query and eighteen for an Engineering Analysis; many run longer.
This one is closed. A recall query ends with NHTSA’s finding on the recall it examined — the remedy stands, is widened, or a new campaign follows; the file names the recall it concerned and NHTSA’s closing resume carries the reasoning.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themAlso named: 2007 Freightliner Business Class M2; 2007 Freightliner Business Class M2 106V; 2007 Freightliner M2.
A vehicle page’s investigation list carries the same action; a name here is the scope NHTSA opened, not a list of affected VINs.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationIs RQ12001 a recall?
No. A recall query is NHTSA asking questions, not a recall. A safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number and a duty to repair for free; this one closed without one. Whether one particular vehicle has an open recall is a VIN question at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is RQ12001 still open?
No. It closed on Apr 16, 2013 without a recall.
Which vehicles does RQ12001 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 3 model years: 2007 Freightliner Business Class M2, 2007 Freightliner Business Class M2 106V, 2007 Freightliner M2. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.