Freightliner Cascadias Recalled for Steer Tire Problem

More than 4,000 Freightliner Cascadias are being recalled because of the potential for steer tire blow-outs.

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling certain 2020-2022 Freightliner Cascadia sleeper trucks equipped with Bridgestone R284, R268, or R283S Ecopia steer axle tires in conjunction with a specific low-ground-clearance bumper designed for fuel efficiency. The steer tires may experience tread separation or blow-outs while driving. The affected trucks were manufactured between Feb. 2, 2019, and Jan. 8, 2021.

Late last summer, DTNA was made aware of several steer tire failures. As it investigated, more failure reports came in. The truck maker met with Bridgestone several times, visited customers, and conducted additional testing to learn more about the issue. The failures appear limited to the Bridgestone tires.

While the root cause has not been determined, DTNA said its best understanding is that the problem may be caused by elevated tire temperatures during vehicle operation. Factors contributing to the tire failures, it said, include under-inflation, road speed, overloading, application usage, high ambient temperature, and aerodynamic features.

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steer tires, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 13. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL872.

Until the steer tires can be replaced, DTNA said, drivers must conduct pre- and post-trip inspections of tire sidewall and tread condition, maintain proper tire pressures as required by the supplier, observe tire speed ratings, and take cautionary measures when warnings of low tire pressure and/or elevated tire temperatures are indicated on driver’s notification screen at the dash panel on those trucks equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems.

The company also is removing the suspect tires from specific Cascadia sleeper configurations that are in-process at the assembly plants and replacing the Bridgestone tires with equivalent steer tires from a different tire manufacturer.

If you bought these model-year trucks with the low-clearance bumper new but with steer tires other than the recalled steer tires, but replaced them with one of the recalled tires, DTNA said you should work directly with Bridgestone, as they would not be included in this recall.

Originally posted on Trucking Info