CarRecallWatchThe 2018 Freightliner Cascadia has 26 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, including 2 crashes, 1 fire.
The most-reported problem area is Exterior Lighting (4 reports).
2018 Freightliner Cascadia recalls
Brakes May Pull to One Side, Risking a Crash
Corroded front brake modulator valves can cause the vehicle to pull toward one side when the brakes are applied by Electronic Stability Control or Roll Stability Control.
Brakes May Pull to One Side During Adaptive Cruise Braking
Corrosion can develop in the front-axle brake modulator valves on certain heavy trucks.
Brake lights may stay on after pedal release, raising crash risk
Certain 2017-2021 Freightliner Cascadia trucks may have brake lights that remain illuminated after the brake pedal has been released.
Headlight Bulb Can Dislodge and Melt Nearby Parts, Raising Fire Risk
Certain Freightliner Cascadia trucks with halogen headlight assemblies may have a headlight bulb that dislodges during bulb replacement.
Clutch Can Fail, Allowing Vehicle to Move Unexpectedly
An internal component inside the clutch assembly may fail.
Brakes May Pull to One Side During Automatic Braking
Corrosion in the single brake modulator valve can slow the valve's release timing.
Rear reflective tape may be hidden, reducing visibility to other drivers
On certain heavy trucks, the mudflap hanger bracket may partially cover the rear reflective tape.
ABS Warning Light May Stay Off During a Fault
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) electronic control unit may fail to detect a malfunctioning solenoid valve in the ABS/ESC module when the vehicle starts under certain low-voltage conditions.
Insufficient air brake reservoir may reduce braking, raising crash risk
Some heavy trucks may have an air brake reservoir (tank) that is too small to meet federal brake standards.
ABS Warning Light May Not Reactivate, Raising Crash Risk
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction warning light may fail to come back on after the ignition is turned off and then switched back on.
Driver's Airbag May Deploy Unexpectedly
Certain 2018-2020 Freightliner Cascadia trucks with the optional steering wheel airbag may have a driver's frontal airbag that deploys without warning.
Clutch Defect Can Cause Unintended Vehicle Movement
A component inside the Eaton ECA heavy-duty clutch assembly may fail, which can cause the vehicle to move unintentionally.
Loose Steering Bolts Can Cause Loss of Steering Control
Certain 2017 Freightliner custom chassis trucks may have loose steering and tie rod arm bolts.
Brake Lights May Stay On After Pedal Is Released
Some 2017-2018 Freightliner Cascadia trucks may have brake lights that stay lit after the driver releases the brake pedal.
Loose Brake Caliper Bolts Can Reduce Braking
Some 2018 Freightliner and Freightliner Custom Chassis trucks may have brake caliper mounting bolts that were not tightened enough at the factory.
Fuel Line Can Burst and Engine May Stall
Certain heavy trucks with Cummins ISX15 or X15 diesel engines may have a fuel line that bursts during certain driving conditions, such as on a long downhill grade.
Loose Brake Caliper Bolts Can Reduce Braking
Some heavy trucks may have had the bolts that hold the air disc brake calipers insufficiently tightened during manufacturing.
Steering arm can crack and break, causing loss of steering
Over time, the pitman arm in the steering gear box can crack and fracture.
Dash Warning Lights May Not Check Brake Warnings
On certain 2017-2019 Freightliner Cascadia trucks, the instrument cluster may skip the startup bulb check for the anti-lock brake (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) warning lights if the ignition is switched off and back on too quickly.
Loose Brake Caliper Bolts Can Cause Caliper Detachment
Certain 2018-2019 Freightliner Cascadia trucks may have brake caliper mounting bolts that were not properly tightened.
Loose Brake Caliper Bolts May Reduce Braking Power
Certain 2017 FCCC chassis equipped with air disc brakes may have brake caliper mounting bolts that were not tightened enough at the factory, so the bolts can loosen over time.
Driver Air Bag May Not Deploy Properly in a Crash
The fasteners that hold the driver's air bag module inside the steering wheel may not have been installed to the correct specification.
Brake lights may fail to turn on after hard braking
On certain heavy trucks, the brake light pressure switch may not activate the brake lights when the brake pedal is lightly applied after hard braking.
Transmission May Seize and Stall Engine, Raising Crash Risk
Certain 2018 Freightliner Cascadia trucks equipped with Detroit automatic transmissions may have a shift lock bolt inside the transmission that can seize.
Loose Steering Bolt Can Cause Loss of Steering Control
A bolt that secures the upper steering shaft on certain 2017-2018 Freightliner Cascadia trucks may not have been properly tightened.
Tow hooks may fail during recovery, risking injury
Certain 2018 heavy-duty trucks have tow hooks used for recovery operations that may fail during use.
Most common 2018 Freightliner Cascadia problems
Problem areas named in the 11 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 |
What owners report
See attached document for complaint.
See attached document for complaint.
The Automatic Emergency Braking System has activated at least 3 different times while I was driving. At each occurrence there was nothing in the roadway or travel lane. The vehicle came to an abrupt stop twice and slammed the brakes on but then released them a moment later once. In each event a very near collision with other vehicles was almost caused. There are other drivers that use this truck that have reported similar events (5 or 6), but I cannot say for certain what the exact circumstances were in those events. This vehicle is available for inspection if requested. A dealer has not confirmed the problem, each time they report that the system in functioning correctly. The vehicle has no
Unsure what system or component failed. Our driver was making a delivery on the morning of 4/29/23. He was parked at the consignee location, engine off, and reported hearing a loud pop sound from the tractor while he was offloading merchandise from the trailer. A fire started under the hood, he attempted to extinguish it with the fire extinguisher and failed. The tractor burned to the ground. If the driver had been in the cab when it started, he could've been killed in the fire. Per online articles I found, it seems there were recalls on this same tractor year/model where fires were involved, but this unit shows no open recalls. Wreckage is available for inspection. CHP came to the see
The contact owns a 2018 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off, the brake lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
2018 Freightliner Cascadia questions
Does the 2018 Freightliner Cascadia have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 26 safety recalls for the 2018 Freightliner Cascadia: Brakes May Pull to One Side, Risking a Crash; Brakes May Pull to One Side During Adaptive Cruise Braking; Brake lights may stay on after pedal release, raising crash risk; Headlight Bulb Can Dislodge and Melt Nearby Parts, Raising Fire Risk; Clutch Can Fail, Allowing Vehicle to Move Unexpectedly. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Freightliner Cascadia?
Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Exterior Lighting (4), Vehicle Speed Control (3), Service Brakes (2).
How do I check if a recall on my 2018 Freightliner Cascadia has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.