Freightliner recall query RQ17008
RQ17 - 008 Closing. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this recall query about the recreational vehicle/trailer on 3 model years (2014–2016). Opened Sep 18, 2017, closed Jul 31, 2018 after 10 months without a recall. closed
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedOn February 26, 2016, Bergstrom Inc. notified NHTSA of a safety defect in approximately 10,819 of its ParkSmart auxiliary electrical temperature management units. These units were installed on Freightliner Cascadia Class 8 trucks that may overheat due to high resistance, resulting in possible fires. One of the contributing factors which led to this recall was a plastic vented cap covering the compressor connectors allowing increased flow of air to the overheated connectors, which increased the risk of a fire. ParkSmart units equipped with non-vented caps, according to Bergstrom, were not affected. See Bergstrom recall 16E-017. On March 7, 2016, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), the parent company of Freightliner, filed its corresponding defect decision as to the impacted Freightliner trucks. DTNA identified 8,865 model year 2015-2016 Freightliner Cascadia trucks installed with the ParkSmart units. On September 18, 2017, the Recall Management Division (RMD), opened this investigation to resolve the discrepancy between the larger number of units Bergstrom recalled with the smaller number of trucks DTNA identified as impacted, and to pursue additional recall actions as needed. RMD issued an information request to DTNA on Oct. 26, 2017 inquiring about the discrepancy, as well as field experience information. DTNA filed several responses of different dates that provided shipping and distribution information as well as field reports. DTNA explained that their recalled population was comprised only of vehicles they had produced for the U.S. market. They identified that 1,282 vehicles were produced for the Canadian market, and 122 vehicles for the Mexican market. DTNA said that the remaining balance of parts were likely supplied to parts depots for service (service loops) for other purchasers, such as Freightliner dealers sourcing custom vehicle requests. RMD also requested and reviewed shipping and distribution materials from Bergstrom. These materials identified Park Smart units intended for MY 2014 Cascadia trucks (e.g., vehicles outside the DTNA recall population).RMD confirmed with DTNA that the MY 2014 trucks had the non-vented cap design used on them and so were properly excluded from the recall population. In addition to collecting information and documentation from the involved companies, ODI reviewed early warning reporting information. This search identified nine reports of thermal events. All events, however, occurred on MY 2014 Cascadia trucks that, for reasons explained above, were not part of the DTNA recall and the event linked to other causes. In view of the information available to it at this time, RMD is satisfied that the scope of the DTNA recall is adequate. Accordingly, this RQ is closed.
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: 2014 Freightliner Cascadia; 2015 Freightliner Cascadia; 2016 Freightliner Cascadia.
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 RQ17008 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 RQ17008 still open?
No. It closed on Jul 31, 2018 without a recall.
Which vehicles does RQ17008 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 3 model years: 2014 Freightliner Cascadia, 2015 Freightliner Cascadia, 2016 Freightliner Cascadia. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.