Daimler Recalls Nearly 17,000 Upfitted Trucks for Possible Brake Light Issue

Nearly 17,000 Freightliner and Western Star medium- and heavy-duty trucks have been recalled because brake lights may not illuminate during an emergency automatic braking event.

If this happens, following traffic may not observe the vehicle’s reduced speed or stopping, which may increase the risk of a crash.

The affected vehicles may have been upfitted by truck equipment manufacturers with an optional Body lighting TEMs Interface Controller (BTIC). If the BTIC is used by the vehicle upfitter and the factory-installed brake lights removed, if the service brakes are automatically applied during an Active Brake Assist event, the brake lights will not illuminate.

Software for the expansion module controller was erroneously configured to only control the activation of the brake lights based on the status of the service brake switch.

What Truck Models Does the DTNA Brake Light Recall Affect?

The recall affects the following models, if they may have or could have been upfitted as described:

• 2024-2025 Freightliner 108SD, produced June 7, 2023-July 27, 2024
• 2022- 2025 Freightliner 114SD with diesel powertrain, produced Nov. 9, 2021-July 31, 2024
• 2024-2025 Freightliner 114SD with CNG/LPG powertrain, produced Nov. 7, 2023-July 30, 2024
• 2025 Freightliner eM2 electric, produced April 9-July 24, 2024
• 2022- 2025 Freightliner Business Class M2 with diesel powertrain, produced Nov. 4, 2021-July 31, 2024
• 2024 Freightliner Business Class M2 with CNG/LPG powertrain, produced Nov. 7, 2023-July 16, 2024
• 2024-2025 Freightliner Business Class M2 with gas powertrain, produced July 14, 2023
• 2021- 2025 Western Star 47X, produced Aug. 21, 2020-July 31, 2024
• 2020-2025 Western Star 49X, produced Aug. 26, 2019-July 31, 2024
• 2022-2025 Western Star 57X, produced Nov. 3, 2021-July 8, 2024

More Details on the DTNA Recall

This issue was discovered over the summer in the course of a related investigation into brake light functionality during ABA events in certain Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation vehicles (leading to recall 24V-511).

Daimler Truck North America also began to consider whether the factory installed brake lights for other vehicle models (Western Star and Freightliner) might have the same or similar problems.

While it found that its factory installed brake lights would properly illuminate during an ABA event in those models, it also looked into whether lighting later installed by Truck Equipment Manufacturers (TEMs or final stage manufacturers) during the multi-stage vehicle production process had any impact on the brake lamp display of these vehicle models.

While unresolved questions remain about which of DTNA’s factory installed components remain in use on vehicles that are upfitted by TEMs and whether the TEMs confirm brake light activation at the conclusion of the multi-stage production process, in an abundance of caution, on September 10, DTNA decided to conduct a recall to address this issue.

DTNA is not aware of any warranty claims, field service reports, deaths, injuries or property damage claims related to this issue.

The company developed a software parameter to correct this issue, which was introduced into production on or about August 1. It will include ABA events in the logic for expansion module controller brake light output, correcting the issue with the BTIC (Body Lighting TEMs Interface Controller).

A Daimler Truck North America authorized service facility will update the software parameter to correct the issues. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Details of the reimbursement plan will be included in the owner’s notification letter. Owners are directed to seek reimbursement through authorized dealers.

Customer notification will be made by first class mail using Daimler Trucks North America records to determine the customers affected.

• Planned Dealer Notification Date: September 30
• Planned Owner Notification Date: November 9