- The problem
- 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."
- The risk
- An insufficient air reservoir volume may reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.
- The 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.
Vehicle safety record
2009 Freightliner M2 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2009 Freightliner M2 with NHTSA, most often about the brakes (1) and the electrical system (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 1 fire. It is covered by 15 recalls, the latest in May 2019 for the reservoir / tank. For comparison, the 2008 has 0 and the 2010 has 1.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical M2 year, for its age
#285 most complained-about 2009 vehicle
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 15
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2009 Freightliner M2 problems
Share of all 3 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2009 Freightliner M2 recalls 15
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2016 Freightliner 114SD and M2 Business Class trucks, 2008-2009 Sterling LT8500 trucks and Thomas Built Bus Saf-T-Liner HDX transit buses equipped with certain Cummins Westport ISL G engines. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.
- The risk
- If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Cummins will notify owners on behalf of DTNA, and dealers will secure the ends of the 90-degree elbow. In addition, the electronic control module (ECM) will be reprogrammed with software that can adjust the engine output under misfire conditions to limit crankcase pressures. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000 or Cummins customer service at 1-800-343-7357. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-681.
- The problem
- 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."
- The 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.
- The 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.
- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (Daimler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2015 Freightliner 114SD, Cascadia, M2 Business Class, Sterling LT8500, and Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX vehicles manufactured February 19, 2008, through February 11, 2014, and equipped with Cummins Westport Model ISL G and Cummins Westport Model ISX12 G engines. Condensation in the intake manifold may freeze during cold weather conditions and interfere with the proper operation of the intake manifold pressure sensor.
- The risk
- The sensor malfunction could induce elevated exhaust temperatures or flames from the exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire or burn injury to a person near the exhaust pipe.
- The fix
- Cummins and Cummins Westport will notify owners, and authorized Cummins service facilities will upload a new ECM calibration, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2014. Customers may contact Daimler at 1-800-385-4357 or Cummins Inc. at 1-800-343-7357. Daimler's number for this recall is FL-660.
- The problem
- 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 cause the esc to perceive an over steering situation and therefore apply the outer wheel brake on the front axle until the vehicle is perceived to be stable.
- The 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.
- The 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A short circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
- The 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.
- The problem
- Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2009 through 2011 freightliner cascadia, century, columbia, coronado, m2, and western star 4900 heavy trucks manufactured from february 19, 2009, through july 9, 2010, equipped with specific dd13 and dd15 engines assembled with a bosch high pressure fuel pump element which may develop a crack due to hydrogen induced stress corrosion. The crack may result in a diesel fuel leak.
- The risk
- If a diesel fuel leak continues undetected, fuel may spill onto the roadway increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Daimler trucks will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of a previous recall (see recall campaign 10v-339). The safety recall began on may 18, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1-800-547-0712.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A short circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
- The 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.
- The problem
- Fontaine modification is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 freightliner m2 vehicles built on freightliner chassis and equipped with duel steering components. The routing of the air hoses, within the air brake system, that control the brakes on the right hand side of the truck may have been done improperly.
- The risk
- The air hoses routed very close to the turbo outlet can cause the lines to blister, then melt and develop air leaks that may lead to brake lock up increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will install new hoses and heat protective thermal wrap free of charge. The safety recall began on october 1, 2010. Owners may contact fontaine modification at 704-409-1613.
- The problem
- Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2011 freightliner, fccc, sterling, and western star heavy trucks manufactured from september 5, 2006, through june 30, 2010, equipped with specific mbe900 epa04 and epa07 model engines. The intake air grid heater may short circuit and fail due to excessive internal temperatures.
- The risk
- A short circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
- The fix
- Daimler trucks will notify owners and dealers will repair the buses free of charge. Repairs will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about july 29, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1-800-547-0712.
- The problem
- Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2009 through 2011 freightliner cascadia, century, columbia, coronado, m2, and western star 4900 heavy trucks manufactured from february 19, 2009 through july 9, 2010, equipped with specific dd13 and dd15 engines assembled with a bosch high pressure fuel pump element which may develop a crack due to hydrogen induced stress corrosion. Over time the barrel of the bosch high pressure fuel pump element used on specific dd13/dd15 engines may develop a crack due to hydrogen induced stress corrosion resulting in a diesel fuel leak.
- The risk
- If a diesel fuel leak continues undetected, fuel may spill onto the roadway potentially resulting in a crash.
- The fix
- Daimler trucks will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about march 28, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1-800-547-0712.
- The problem
- Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 freightliner columbia, cascadia, coronado, century, m2, sterling 9500, and western star 4900 vehicles equipped with dd 13 and dd15/dd16 engines and manufactured from january 1, 2007 through april 5, 2010. Should the fuel filter become restricted, the low pressure fuel flange may develop a crack resulting in a fuel leak.
- The risk
- Fuel leaking onto the roadway may result in vehicle crash.
- The fix
- The low pressure fuel flange will be replaced with a more robust component. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 17, 2010. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
- The problem
- Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 freightliner m2, custom chassis mt55, and sterling acterra vehicles manufactured between april 4, 2007 and july 15, 2009, equipped with cummins isc cm2150 and isl cm2150 model diesel engines. The vehicles may be designed with a hard wired, dash-mounted switch that enables the vehicle operator to inhibit aftertreatment diesel particulate filter regeneration in environments where the operator believes it may be unsafe for elevated exhaust temperatures. Due to an issue with the logic in the ecm software in these engines, the switch may not function correctly, leading the operator to believe that the switch is in "inhibit" mode when it is not.
- The risk
- This condition will permit hot exhaust gases to exit the vehicle tailpipe, increasing the risk of melting or burning of nearby surfaces, or a fire.
- The fix
- Daimler trucks is working with cummins to repair the engines free of charge. Please see cummins' defect report 09e-046. The safety recall is expected to begin during november 2009. Owners may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels (1-800-343-7357) or daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
- The problem
- Daimler trucks is recalling model year 2009-2010 freightliner, and sterling vehicles equipped detroit diesel dd13 epa07 engines which were manufactured with grid heaters. Increased internal grid heater resistance caused by improperly tightened screws may melt the solder on the grid heater circuit board leading to a short circuit.
- The risk
- A short circuit could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
- The fix
- Detroit diesel will repair vehicles free of charge. The engine control logic will be reprogrammed to provide cold weather starting without the need of a grid heater. Wiring to the grid heater will be removed. The safety recallbegan on december 18, 2009. Owners may contact detroit diesel at 1-313-592-5800 or daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
- The problem
- Daimler trucks is recalling 1,460 model year 2009 and 2010 heavy duty trucks and fccc chassis (used on thomas built school buses) manufactured from june 11 through december 16, 2008, equipped with certain haldex quick release valves (qrv). The rubber diaphragm inside the qrv may experience delamination resulting in significant levels of air pressure leakage past and/or through the diaphragm, or the development of a bubble in the diaphragm which may trap air pressure in the valve and not allow the service brakes to release.
- The risk
- Malfunction of the air brake system could result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Daimler trucks will notify owners and repair the buses free of charge. Repairs will be performed by daimler trucks north america. The safety recall began on august 12, 2009. Owners may contact daimler trucks toll-free at 1-800-547-0712.
What owners say
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3 complaints about the 2009 Freightliner M2
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
See attached document for complaint.
Ecm engine control module malfunction. There were no warning signs or symptoms. The m2 completely shut off while traveling at moderate speed on the highway the no. 2 Lane. The driver made every effort to reach the shoulder as the m2 rolled dead.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 freightliner m2. While driving at 55 mph, the rear driver side brakes were emitting smoke. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The repair details were unknown. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,000. Updated 09/25/15*lj updated 10/26/2017*cn
Freightliner M2: every year compared
All M2 years2009 Freightliner M2 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Freightliner M2 | 3 | 15 | F | |
| 2009 Freightliner Cascadia | 19 | 24 | C | Compare |
| 2009 Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2 | 8 | B | Compare |
| 2009 Freightliner Columbia | 2 | 20 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2009 Freightliner M2
Does the 2009 Freightliner M2 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 15 recalls for the 2009 Freightliner M2: reservoir / tank (May 2019); engine (June 2015); service brakes, air (April 2015); engine (February 2014) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Freightliner M2?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the brakes (1), electrical system (1), acceleration & cruise control (1).
How many complaints has the 2009 Freightliner M2 had?
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on June 23, 2015 and the latest on February 27, 2025. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2009 Freightliner M2 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 20 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Freightliner M2 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Freightliner M2 years have the most complaints?
2021 (8), 2009 (3), 2022 (3). See every Freightliner M2 year compared.
What should I do if my 2009 Freightliner M2 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data