NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Recall Query RQ17-008: RQ17 - 008 Closing
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Recall Query RQ17-008 on September 18, 2017 and closed it on July 31, 2018. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2014–2016 Freightliner Cascadia for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- RQ17-008 (also written RQ17008)
- Investigation type
- Recall Query An investigation into whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or whether its remedy works, run much like a Preliminary Evaluation.
- Status
- Closed July 31, 2018
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
- Component
- Equipment — Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2014–2016 Freightliner Cascadia
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Recall Query RQ17-008.
On 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.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Recall Query RQ17-008. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Freightliner
All Freightliner recallsWhat an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for RQ17-008
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.