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Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) has announced a recall for select 2025 and 2026 Freightliner and Western Star vehicles due to a software glitch in the automatic emergency braking system. This issue could stop the brake lights from turning on during sudden braking, raising the chances of a crash. The recall affects around 1,891 trucks, and DTNA is offering free software updates to fix the problem. Owners will get letters about this starting May 24, 2025.
Key Highlights:
- Affected Models: 2026 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, Cascadia, 2025-2026 Freightliner Business Class M2, Western Star 47X, and Western Star 49X.
- Problem: A software error may keep brake lights off during automatic hard braking.
- Safety Risk: No brake light signal could lead to rear-end collisions.
- Fix: Free software updates at DTNA dealers.
- Contact: Call DTNA at 1-800-547-0712 or check nhtsa.gov.
This recall, tagged with NHTSA Campaign Number 25V187000 and DTNA’s code F1018, targets specific heavy-duty trucks built between late 2024 and early 2025. The glitch occurs in vehicles without towing setups, where the emergency braking system applies the brakes but fails to light up the brake lamps. This can confuse drivers behind the truck, especially during sudden stops triggered by the vehicle’s safety system.
DTNA spotted the issue in late February 2025 during routine tests. After digging deeper, they found that trucks with towing packages weren’t affected due to a backup pneumatic system that turns on the lights. For the rest, a software tweak was needed. Production fixes began March 1, 2025, but earlier models still need updates.
Owners will hear from DTNA via mail in late May 2025 and can get the free fix at authorized service centers. For questions, reach DTNA at 1-800-547-0712 or visit the NHTSA site. This step shows DTNA’s focus on keeping its trucks safe on the road.
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