2008 Freightliner Columbia Recall

On certain trucks equipped with "Fleet Engineer" mud flaps, the bracket for the mud flaps may partially cover the rear reflective tape. Canadian regulations require that reflective tape must be visible on the rear of the truck.

Reflective tape that is covered may make the truck less visible to others and could create an increased risk of a crash.

Daimler Trucks of North America (DTNA) will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to an authorized DTNA Service Facility to inspect the reflective tape. It will be moved as necessary to meet the regulations.

Certain trucks were built with air reservoir tanks that are too small in relation to the size of the air brake chambers. Canadian regulations require enough air reservoir capacity to ensure the brakes work even with heavy use or when there is a partial loss of the air system.

Reduced braking could cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash.

The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their truck to a Daimler Trucks North America authorized service facility to modify the truck to ensure it meets Canadian regulations.

On certain trucks equipped with a Detroit Diesel DD13, DD15 or DD16 engine, the support system for the high pressure fuel line (between the fuel pump and the fuel delivery rail) may be damaged during a service repair procedure. Incorrect torque applied to the dampener "P" clip fasteners may damage the fasteners, which could allow the clips to loosen. This could result in a cracked fuel line and a diesel fuel leak. Diesel fuel leakage may ignite on a hot engine surface and cause a fire. As well, diesel fuel spilt on the roadway could endanger other road users by making the roadway unexpectedly slippery. These issues could result in property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the high pressure fuel line and install a more robust fuel line support system.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles equipped with an MBE4000 (EPA07) engine, the intake air grid heater may short circuit and fail. This could result in a vehicle fire causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will install an additional external relay to prevent battery connection to the grid heater when the vehicle is not running and when grid heater control signal is absent.

A failure of this component (other) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks equipped with a rack & pinion steering system, the lower pinion bearing may corrode and fail. As a result, the vehicle may require additional steering input while driving in a straight line. This could also cause a loss of steering power assist. These issues could ultimately result in property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect the rack and pinion gear assembly. If it passes the inspection, new bellows will be installed and grease added to the bottom pinion bearing. A steering gear that fails the inspection will be replaced.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the plastic low-pressure fuel line between the engine-mounted fuel filter and the engine block may develop a diesel fuel leak. The location of the leak is unlikely to result in a vehicle fire; however, diesel fuel spilt on the roadway could endanger other road users by making the roadway unexpectedly slippery. This could ultimately result in a vehicle crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the plastic low-pressure fuel line with a steel version.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, specific operating conditions (such as tight, successive, highly banked curves in opposite directions), could trigger unintended Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system intervention. As a result, the ESC may unnecessarily apply one of the front brakes in order to correct the perceived oversteer condition. This may cause the vehicle to deviate from the intended path, thereby increasing the risk of a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the ESC module.

A failure of this component (other) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks equipped with a DD15 or DD16 engine, the bolt attaching a rubber isolator to a support bracket may become loose, back out, and contact the starter cable. This could cause an electrical short, which could result in a fire causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will install a new bolt and isolator, and apply thread-locking fluid to the fastener.

A failure of this component (electrical) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, should the fuel filter become restricted, the low pressure fuel flange may develop a crack resulting in a fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire causing property damage, personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel flange with a more robust component.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the engine grid heater may fail, which could result in a vehicle fire causing property damage, personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the engine control logic to provide cold weather starting without the need of a grid heater. Wiring to the grid heater will be removed.

A failure of this component (engine) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the plastic low-pressure fuel line may fatigue crack and leak. Diesel fuel leakage may ignite on a hot engine surface and cause a fire, which could result in property damage, personal injury or death. As well, diesel fuel spilt on the roadway could endanger other road users. Correction: Dealers will replace the plastic low-pressure fuel line with a steel low-pressure line.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles equipped with a Caterpillar C15 engine, the Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) oil line may wear against the P-clip retaining the oil line. An oil leak could result in a vehicle fire causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Caterpillar dealers will replace the VVA oil line with an updated version.

A failure of this component (engine) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the left inner tie rod end may loosen and eventually separate from the steering rack. Tie rod failure could result in a loss of steering control and a crash, causing personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will remove and inspect the left inner tie rod. Damaged steering racks will be replaced.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) chassis attachment bracket may fail, allowing the DPF assembly to separate from the vehicle. Should this occur, the DPF could become a road hazard, posing a risk to motorists and bystanders. Correction: Dealers will replace the DPF chassis attachment bracket and straps.

A failure of this component (emissions) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

Certain vehicles may have been assembled with an incorrectly manufactured Bendix MV-3 dash control valve. If the double check valve becomes lodged, in the event of a primary reservoir failure, air pressure can leak past the lodged valve, thereby depleting the secondary reservoir, causing a reduced ability for modulating the emergency brakes. Extended stopping distances may result in a vehicle crash, causing property damage, and/or personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the dash control valve.

A failure of this component (brakes) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, incorrect fasteners may have been used to attached the brake caliper to the brake anchor plate during vehicle assembly. The incorrect fasteners may not provide adequate clamping force, potentially resulting in reduced brake effectiveness. Extended stopping distances may result in a vehicle crash causing injury or death. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if incorrect bolts are found, will check for possible additional damage, and repair as required.

A failure of this component (brakes) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, an incorrectly manufactured steering gear sector shaft may cause the steering to "stick or bind". This could severely restrict the steering turning angle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash with injury or death. Correction: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the extension pipes attached to the Aftertreatment Regeneration Device (ARD) may develop a crack or hole and heat and flame may escape during a regeneration of the Diesel Particulate Filter, which may result in a vehicle fire. Correction: Caterpillar dealers will replace the ARD body and, if necessary, will replace the extension pipe and upgrade the software.

A failure of this component (emissions) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the fifth wheel hitch assembly's lever arm may have been incorrectly installed during the manufacturing process. The lever arm pivot bolt may have been over-tightened which could distort the pivot bolt spacer sleeve and prevent the fifth wheel latch jaw from closing and latching securely around the trailer king pin. This could allow the towed unit to separate from the towing vehicle while underway, potentially causing a crash with injury or death. Correction: Dealers will replace the pivot bolt and sleeve with a hex head shoulder bolt and washer.

A failure of this component (other) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the wiper motor ground wire was omitted during vehicle assembly. As a result, the wiper motor may not operate or may function intermittently. This could lead to reduced visibility and a crash without warning. Correction: Dealers will install a wiper motor ground wire.

A failure of this component (electrical) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the driver's side inner tie rod may be damaged while the truck is executing a sharp turn. Excessive tie rod angles may loosen the tie rod ball socket and/or damage the threaded tie rod attachment to the steering rack. As a result, the tie rod assembly may fail, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control and a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the front axle steering stops to limit turning radius and prevent interference with the tie rod assembly.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the tie rod arms may have been incorrectly installed during vehicle assembly. If the right steering arm is installed on the left knuckle, excessive tie rod angles may loosen the threaded tie rod attachment to the steering rack. As a result, the tie rod assembly may fail, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control and a crash. Correction: Dealers will inspect for proper steering arm installation. Steering components will be replaced on trucks that have incorrectly installed tie rod arms.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, when the ignition key is in the 'ON' position, the pre-heater, located in the fuel filter base, is energized. If this pre-heater is energized while maintenance is being performed on the fuel filter, diesel fuel could ignite within the filter housing. A fire within the fuel filter housing may spread possibly resulting in property damage or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the fuel heater assembly.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the fasteners that attach the steering arm or tie rod arm to the spindle may have been over or under tightened during assembly process. Incorrectly torqued steering arm fasteners may fatigue and fracture, possibly causing a crash without warning. Correction: Dealers will inspect fasteners and apply correct tightening torque.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the flange, crossmember, and web mounting surfaces of the center suspension mounting bracket casting may not be perpendicular. An out of square casting may have unacceptable stresses in the bracket when it is installed and may cause it to crack in service. The driveline may not be held in position if a cracked bracket fractures completely. This will affect vehicle control and may cause a crash without warning. Correction: Dealers will replace casting out of specs.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the internal rubber check valve inside the Bendix SR-7 spring brake modulating valve can become deformed over time. The effect of this defect is intermittent and presents a potential delay or failure in applying the parking brakes; potentially resulting in a vehicle roll away. Should this occur, the unattended roll away vehicle could strike a bystander or cause property damage. Correction: Dealers will install a check valve repair kit.

A failure of this component (brakes) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain trucks, the two upper tilt plate bolts may loosen with use and fall out. These fasteners hold the upper column assembly in place. The steering column pivot may fracture if the bolts are missing when an excessive force is applied to the steering wheel. A loss of steering control could result in a vehicle crash causing injury or death. Correction: Dealers will affect repairs

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).