The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·20V214000·Announced 2020-04-14

Commercial Truck Rear Reflective Tape Obstruction Creates Visibility Risk

Daimler Trucks is recalling certain commercial trucks where the mudflap hanger bracket partially covers rear reflective tape, reducing visibility. Owners should contact DTNA or NHTSA for free inspection and repositioning.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: Although this involves a confirmed structural vehicle defect affecting visibility and FMVSS compliance, no injuries, deaths, or property damage are reported in the source. The consequence—increased crash risk—remains theoretical. This fits the rubric criterion for High severity: risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling select commercial truck models including Freightliner Columbia, Freightliner Business Class M2, Freightliner Coronado, Freightliner 122 SD, Sterling 9500, Freightliner Argosy, Sterling AT9500, Freightliner Cascadia, Freightliner Classic, Freightliner Century Class, Freightliner FLD, and Western Star 5700 vehicles from model years 2006 through 2021.

The rear reflective tape on these vehicles may be partially covered by the mudflap hanger bracket, reducing the vehicle's visibility to other drivers on the road. This obstruction causes the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, which governs lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. The reduced rear visibility increases the risk of a crash.

Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 for a free inspection and repositioning of the reflective tape. DTNA's recall number is FL848. The recall began May 29, 2020. Alternatively, owners can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, WESTERN STAR COLUMBIA, CLASSIC XL, 122SD, FLD
Brand
FREIGHTLINER
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America LLC
Category
Vehicle — Heavy Truck Lighting
Hazard
Affected units
63,175

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (12)

  • COLUMBIA
  • CLASSIC XL
  • 122SD
  • FLD
  • CENTURY CLASS
  • CASCADIA
  • AT9500
  • CORONADO
  • BUSINESS CLASS M2
  • ARGOSY
  • 9500
  • 5700

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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