Freightliner Corporation: Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables
Freightliner Corporation reported this defect to federal regulators on Dec 17, 2001 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 3,500. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3406E AND C-15 ENGINES, INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND STUD MOUNTING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) TO THE ENGINE EXISTS. CHAFING CAN WEAR THROUGH THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE AND THE STUD.
The risk
THIS CONTACT COULD PROVIDE A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND THE BATTERY CABLES WILL BE REPLACED AND/OR RE-ROUTED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
15 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Western Star 4800 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Western Star 4900 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Western Star 5800 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Western Star 5900 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Western Star 6900 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Western Star 4800 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Western Star 4900 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Western Star 5800 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Western Star 5900 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Western Star 6900 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Western Star 4800 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Western Star 4900 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Western Star 5800 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Western Star 5900 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Western Star 6900 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 01V387000.
Full record for the 2000 Western Star 4800 → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →