2006 Freightliner M2 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes, Air (2) · Exterior Lighting (1)
Safety recalls (5)
Service Brakes, Air:supply:reservoir/Tank 2019-05-14 · campaign 19V370000 · 741 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2004-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Cascadia, Columbia, Classic, FL80, FLD 120SD, Business Class M2, Western Star 4700, 4900, 6900, Sterling Acterra, L7500, LT7500, L8500, LT8500, L9500, and LT9500 vehicles. The vehicles may have an insufficient service brake air reservoir capacity. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: An insufficient air reservoir volume may reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will add air reservoir capacity to the affected vehicles. Owner letters were mailed on November 29, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-815.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2015-04-14 · campaign 15V220000 · 3,571 vehicles
Defect: Fontaine Modification (Fontaine) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Freightliner M2 trucks manufactured January 2, 2006, to January 23, 2015 and modified by Fontaine to have dual steering. Brake lights of the affected vehicles will not illuminate if the primary brake air supply is depleted below 6 psi. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: If the primary brake air system fails causing the truck to rely on the secondary brake air system, the brakes lights may not illuminate when the brakes are applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Fontaine will notify owners, and dealers will install a repair kit to resolve the issue, free of charge. The recallbegan on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Fontaine customer service at 1-800-366-8246.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2011-09-08 · campaign 11V465000 · 4,444 vehicles
Defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2012 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2, CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA, CORONADO AND STERLING A-LINE VEHICLES BUILT WITH MERITOR WABCO ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEM MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 2011. UNDER CERTAIN ROAD AND DRIVING CONDITIONS, VEHICLE BODY ROLL AND ROAD INCLINATION CHARACTERISTICS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SLIP ANGLE CALCULATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEM. THIS MIGHT CAUS
Risk: IF THE DRIVER IS SLOW TO REACT DURING THIS ESC INTERVENTION, THE VEHICLE MAY DEVIATE FROM THE INTENDED LINE OF TRAVEL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ESC MODULE WITH THE APPROPRIATE SOFTWARE VERSION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE MAILED ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 21, 2011. THE DATE FOR AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL REMEDY IS SUBJECT TO VALIDATION TESTING AND PARTS AVAILABILITY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2011-08-31 · campaign 11V455000 · 43 vehicles
Defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2012 FREIGHTLINER M2, STERLING ACTERRA, 7500 & 8500, AND THOMAS BUILT HDX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2004, THROUGH MARCH 15, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
Risk: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Fix: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712. THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V-341.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2011-03-03 · campaign 11V146000 · 2,073 vehicles
Defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2011 FREIGHTLINER, CASCADIA, CENTURY, COLUMBIA FLD, AND M2, STERLING 9500, AND WESTERN STAR 4900 HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 20, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE4000 EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
Risk: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Fix: DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE RECALL DURING MARCH 2011. ANOTHER NOTIFICATION WILL BE ISSUED ONCE THE REMEDY IS RELEASED. DTNA EXPECTS THE REMEDY TO BE AVAILABLE BY DECEMBER 1, 2011. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DTNA DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DTNA TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712. THIS RECALL IS ASSCOCIATED WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V-341.
Service bulletins (121)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2021-01-06 · TT8745 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
notice concerning freightliner service bulletin 20-086
Equipment 2019-08-07 · 19-008WI · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
warranty information letter sent to customers regarding new refrigerator supplier for returning parts.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2019-06-26 · SF585 2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
receiver/dryer bracket and cac plumbing interference
Engine And Engine Cooling 2019-06-07 · SF585 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
receiver/dryer bracket and cac plumbing interference field service campaign
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys 2018-11-30 · 18TS4Rev DD · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
18ts4rev dd heavy duty platform accessory drive belt
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System 2018-11-30 · GHG17 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
letter to customer on coverage extension ghg17 after treatment
Showing the 6 most recent of 121 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2017-08-03 · Service Brakes, Air · 62,439 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 freightliner m2 106. while attempting to release the air brake, it would not disengage. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who walked through the process of temporarily repairing the brake. an unknown dealer provided the contact with a repair estimate. the manufacturer was notified and did not assist. the f…”
2015-05-05 · Exterior Lighting · 64,498 mi“this freightliner m2 has been made into a motorhome by dynamax corp. the cruise control and brake system are freightliner. i noticed that the cruise control did not always disengage when the brakes were applied and i had to switch it off manually. upon further checking, the brake lights were also not coming on when brakes were applied. i checked th…”
2011-05-31 · Service Brakes, Air · 18,400 mi“tl*the contact owns a 2006 freightliner m2 light chassis. the contact stated that both front brake calipers locked, heated up and almost caught fire. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the front brakes were disabled as a temporary fix. the vehicle was then taken to an authorized dealer who replaced the two front calipers. the rear driver …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.