2013 Freightliner Columbia recalls and problems

The 2013 Freightliner Columbia has 5 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

How the 2013 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

5recalls

0complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

—median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

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5 recalls

Exterior Lighting

Apr 14, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V214000 · 63,175 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2006-2020 Freightliner Columbia, 2006-2021 Freightliner Business Class M2, 2007-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2014-2021 Freightliner 122 SD, 2007 Sterling A 9500, 2006 Freightliner Argosy, 2006-2007 Sterling AT9500, 2008-2021 Freightliner Cascadia, 2006-2008 Freightliner Classic, 2006-2011 Freightliner Century Class, 2006-2010 Freightliner FLD, and 2017 Western Star 5700 vehicles. The rear reflective tape may be partially covered by the mudflap hanger bracket, which may reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers on the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: The vehicle's rearward visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reposition the reflective tape to ensure that it is completely visible, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL848.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Equipment

Dec 15, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V810000 · 24,860 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado trucks and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900 and 6900 trucks. These vehicles are equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers that may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy & notes

DTNA will notify owners, and instruct them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712, or contact Kidde customer service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-759.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Service Brakes

Apr 12, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V206000 · 702 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2010-2017 Freightliner M2 Business Class, 108SD, 114SD, and Columbia trucks manufactured from January 6, 2010, through February 29, 2016, equipped with certain Bendix rear disk brakes and spring suspensions. The rear disk brake caliper may have been installed incorrectly, thus allowing the caliper to contact the suspension.

Risk: Caliper contact with the spring suspension may reduce the braking effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the orientation of the rear brake calipers, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's recall number for this campaign is FL-705.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Suspension

Jun 12, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V266000 · 217 vehicles

Problem: Daimler trucks north america (dtna) is recalling certain model year 2013 Freightliner, western star, Freightliner custom chassis trucks, and thomas built buses manufactured from April 18, 2012, through May 11, 2012, and equipped with detroit axle-brand front axle knuckles. The front knuckles on these vehicles May have a machining error in the wheel bearing area which May lead to premature spindle failure.

Original NHTSA wording

DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 FREIGHTLINER, WESTERN STAR, FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS TRUCKS, AND THOMAS BUILT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 18, 2012, THROUGH MAY 11, 2012, AND EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT AXLE-BRAND FRONT AXLE KNUCKLES. THE FRONT KNUCKLES ON THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A MACHINING ERROR IN THE WHEEL BEARING AREA WHICH MAY LEAD TO PREMATURE SPINDLE FAILURE.

Risk: If the spindle fails, the wheel May separate from the knuckle, resulting in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE SPINDLE FAILS, THE WHEEL MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dtna will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the affected components, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 10, 2012. Owners May contact daimler trucks north america toll free at 1-800-547-0712.

Daimler trucks' recall campaign number is fl-629.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administrationâs vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Engine

Feb 28, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V074000 · 103,437 vehicles

Problem: Daimler trucks (dtna) is recalling certain model year 2006-2013 Freightliner, sterling, and western star vehicles, equipped with detroit diesel EPA07 and EPA10, DD13 and DD15/16 engines, manufactured from January 20, 2006, through February 20, 2012. The pump to rail high pressure fuel line support system used on these engines is sensitive to assembly torque and May be damaged during service work. As a result of other repairs, the line supports May loosen, potentially leading to fuel line cracking and a fuel leak.

Original NHTSA wording

DAIMLER TRUCKS (DTNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2013 FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, AND WESTERN STAR VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL EPA07 AND EPA10, DD13 AND DD15/16 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 20, 2006, THROUGH FEBRUARY 20, 2012. THE PUMP TO RAIL HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE SUPPORT SYSTEM USED ON THESE ENGINES IS SENSITIVE TO ASSEMBLY TORQUE AND MAY BE DAMAGED DURING SERVICE WORK. AS A RESULT OF OTHER REPAIRS, THE LINE SUPPORTS MAY LOOSEN, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO FUEL LINE CRACKING AND A FUEL LEAK.

Risk: A fuel leak could create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Also a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

A FUEL LEAK COULD CREATE A ROAD HAZARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. ALSO A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dtna will notify owners, and where necessary, the high pressure fuel line support system will be replaced by dtna authorized service facilities, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 27, 2012. Owners May contact dtna at 1-800-547-0712.

Dtna's recall campaign number is 12C-2.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

NHTSA investigations

Daimler Trucks North America Recalls

AQ18002 · opened Apr 23, 2018 · closed Jul 11, 2024

Summary

On April 23, 2018, the National Highway Traï¬c Safety Administration (âNHTSAâ) opened Audit Query (AQ18002) to assess the timeliness and scope of four recalls ï¬led by Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (âDTNAâ). NHTSA subsequently expanded AQ18002 to examine the timeliness and scope of three additional DTNA recalls and compliance with early warning reporting and manufacturer communications reporting requirements. NHTSA and DTNA entered into a Consent Order on December 29, 2020, to resolve NHTSAâs assertions that certain recalls within the scope of AQ18002 were untimely, DTNA failed to timely submit certain manufacturer communications to NHTSA, and DTNA failed to submit ï¬eld reports to NHTSA as required. As part of the Consent Order, DTNA agreed to a total civil penalty of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000), of which ten million dollars ($10,000,000) was paid on January 12, 2021. Also, of that total civil penalty, DTNA agreed to spend ï¬ve million dollars ($5,000,000) on the speciï¬c performance obligations to develop advanced data analytics capabilities to enhance its ability to detect and study emerging safety-related defect trends on its vehicles (âSafety Data Analytics infrastructureâ) and an advanced data analytics and reporting platform that integrates data on emerging safety-related defect trends on its vehicles and recall lessons learned (âSafety Communications Platformâ). The Consent Order also held ï¬fteen million dollars ($15,000,000) of t…

2013 vs. other Freightliner Columbia years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2013. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2013 Freightliner Columbia have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2013 Freightliner Columbia, the latest from Apr 14, 2020 (exterior lighting). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Freightliner Columbia?

Few complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Freightliner Columbia.