My main concern is whether the brake modulator valve recall is related to recurring brake problems on our 2019 Freightliner Cascadia. I am asking the federal safety agency to investigate whether the recalled valve contributed to the defects found during a roadside inspection and whether the recall repair addresses the risk of these problems happening again. On November 2, 2026, an Illinois roadside inspector placed the truck out of service after finding a leaking brake chamber, a brake out of adjustment, and an inoperative automatic slack adjuster. Before departure, the driver performed a pre-trip inspection with the engine running. The driver reported hearing no air leak and noticing no loss of air pressure or difficulty braking. It is unknown whether a dashboard warning appeared. The repair shop confirmed that the brake chamber was leaking air. All three cited defects were corrected. Similar brake problems have occurred on this truck before. My concern is that they could recur while the truck is in service and affect its ability to stop safely before the driver notices a problem. The connection to the recalled valve remains unconfirmed.
2019 Freightliner Cascadia brakes problems
11 complaints (37% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 50,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 11
- of this car's complaints
- 37%
- typical mileage
- 50,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 12
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Freightliner Cascadia brakes problems in other years
Related recalls
Service brakes, air: antilock: modulator
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Freightliner Cascadia, 2020-2022 Freightliner Business Class M2, and 2022 Freightliner 114SD, and 2020-2023 Western Star 49X, 2021-2023 Western Star 47X, and 2021-2022 Western Star 57X vehicles. The brake modulator valves on the front axle may corrode and cause the vehicle to pull to the affected side during an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) braking event.
- Risk
- Brakes that pull to one side during an ACC braking event may cause a sudden change in vehicle direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake modulator valves, as necessary. Some vehicles will have a software update which will alert driver when a replacement is required. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning October 16, 2023. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-958. This recall expands and replaces previous recall 20V‑390. All vehicles previously repaired under recall 20V‑390 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Recall number 22V817000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: supply: quick release valve
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Freightliner Cascadia tractor trailers. The single brake modulator valve may be affected by chemical corrosion which can slow down the release timing and cause the brakes to pull to the affected side during automatic braking events.
- Risk
- Brakes that pull to one side during automatic braking events may cause a sudden change in vehicle direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front left and right single brake modulator valves will be replaced and spacers added, free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-855.
Recall number 20V390000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, Cascadia, Business Class M2, Western Star 4700 and 5700, Freightliner Custom Chassis S2, Custom Chassis XB, and Custom Chassis XC vehicles equipped with air disc brakes. The brake caliper mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.
- Risk
- Loose brake caliper mounting bolts can reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the vehicles, free of charge. The recall began May 1, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-845.
Recall number 20V127000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles. The ABS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may not detect an incorrectly functioning solenoid valve for the ABS/ESC module during certain low voltage start conditions, potentially causing the ABS/ESC Malfunction indicator not to illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems" and number 136, "Electronic Stability Control Systems on Heavy Vehicles."
- Risk
- Without the alert, an operator may not be aware of an active ABS/ESC malfunction and unknowingly operate the vehicle with reduced ABS/ESC function, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ABS/ESC module, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-830.
Recall number 19V711000 · Recall details
Service brakes
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles equipped with a certain 40K Light Weight Extra Duty Airliner suspension and 51 inch axle spacing configuration. The brake airlines may be damaged due to inadequate clearance between the ride height control valve and the brake airlines.
- Risk
- Damage to the brake airlines can cause reduced brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a new bracket for the height control valve to add additional clearance for the brake airlines, free of charge. The recall began September 16, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-820.
Recall number 19V548000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: disc
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, Business Class M2, Cascadia, Western Star 5700, and FCCC XC Chassis vehicles equipped with air disc brakes. The brake caliper mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.
- Risk
- Loose brake caliper mounting bolts may reduce the brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify the owners and affected vehicle manufacturers, and DTNA dealers will inspect and repair the vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 12, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-816.
Recall number 19V367000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: supply: reservoir/tank
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- An insufficient air reservoir volume may reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 19V370000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the Anti-Lock Braking system (ABS) malfunction warning light may not reactivate after the ignition has been turned off and then switched back on. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- Risk
- Unknowingly operating a truck with an ABS malfunction may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ABS module, free of charge. The recall began April 26, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. The DTNA number for this recall is FL-810.
Recall number 19V136000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, Cascadia, Business Class M2, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation S2C 106 Cab, S2G Cab Chassis, XCL, XCM, XBS, XCP, XCR, Western Star 4700, 4900 and 5700 trucks. The brake caliper mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.
- Risk
- Loose brake caliper mounting bolts can reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will check and tighten the brake caliper mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-794.
Recall number 18V703000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Cascadia, Columbia, Coronado, and Business Class M2 vehicles. During manufacturing, the brake caliper mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.
- Risk
- Loose brake caliper mounting bolts can reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will check and tighten the brake caliper mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began October 5, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-783.
Recall number 18V525000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles. The brake caliper mounting bolts on these vehicles may not been properly tightened, potentially resulting in the caliper detaching.
- Risk
- If the calipers detach, there would be reduced braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper mounting bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 13, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-775.
Recall number 18V411000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Freightliner M2 Business Class, 108SD, 114SD and Cascadia trucks, Western Star 4700, 4900, and 5700 trucks, FCCC S2C 106 Cab, S2G Cab, XBR, XBS, XCL, XCM, XCP, XCR, and XCS chassis equipped with air disc brakes. The brake caliper mounting bolts on these vehicles may be insufficiently tightened, allowing the bolts to loosen.
- Risk
- If the brake caliper mounting bolts loosen, braking performance may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper mounting bolts and tighten them as necessary, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on July 25, 2018. The recall began September 4, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-772.
Recall number 18V353000 · Recall details
What 2019 Freightliner Cascadia owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My 2019 Freightliner Cascadia forward collision brakes activates automatically while on the road without any other vehicle nearby, airbrake malfunction (not released appropriately and fully released) and extremely fuel consumption.
Truck will apply brakes when no objects or vehicles are around. It is very scary and unexpected when the system does this.
My truck just came to a screeching halt on the interstate with no obstacles in front of it. It nearly caused a major accident. I could not override it. I was approaching an overpass approximately 100 yards away. Collision warning lights went on. Horn started beeping and brakes engaged immediately.
Reference no, 11354207. I called the US department of transportation on September 10, 2022 to report the braking failure on my truck that cost my driver his life. I've since called them a couple of times, but have not heard back from them. There have been multiple other reports where the same brake failure occurred, but there has not been any other follow up.
Tl* the contact owned a 2019 freightliner cascadia 126. The contact stated while an employee was driving 35 MPH, when the brakes seized and the axle caught fire. The contact stated ABS warning light illuminated. The driver could park on the side road and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The contact stated no police or fire report was filed. The vehicle was taken to local dealer velocity truck centers - whittier located at 2429 peck rd, whittier, ca 90601, (562) 447-1200, where it was diagnosed with needing a wheel seal and wheel caliper to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated on the august 28,2020, based on the police report, while his employee was driving at 70 MPH, when the driver crashed into the side of the high rail guard for an unknown reason. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash. The contact stated the crash was still under investigation. The insurance adjuster deemed the vehicle a total loss. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to impound lot. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v390000 (service brakes, air) on august 31,2020. The manufacturer had been attempted to call but no one answered. The failure mileage was 210,047.
Tl* the contact owns a 2019 freightliner cascadia. The contact stated while an employee was driving 70 MPH, he noticed that the rear brake lights were constantly illuminated and the ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v390000 (service brakes, air) and had the recall repair completed at houston freightliner located at 9550 n loop e fwy, houston, tx 77029. The contact stated that the recall repair was completed but continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 247,062.
Truck slams on its brakes randomly. Locks them up when there is nothing in front of me and has almost caused me to have a bad accident. It has been doing this ever since I started driving this truck and have put 25,000 miles on it. It has 50,000 miles on odometer. I have been driving for 35 years with no accidents and this truck is going to cause a very bad accident. I am a penske driver based in mt hope ohio and management is doing nothing. We have 10 of these trucks at our facility with this braking feature and we are all about to quit or hire attorneys. Thanks [xxx]. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The avoidance collision system will randomly cause the brakes to slam on when approaching overpasses while moving on the highway, this is happening with all the 2019 trucks with the avidence system
The avoidance collision system will randomly cause the brakes to slam on when approaching overpasses while moving on the highway
Questions about the 2019 Freightliner Cascadia brakes
Does the 2019 Freightliner Cascadia have brakes problems?
Owners have filed 11 complaints about the brakes of the 2019 Freightliner Cascadia, 37% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2019 Freightliner Cascadia brakes problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 50,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2019 Freightliner Cascadia brakes?
Yes, 12 recalls: 22V817000, 20V390000, 20V127000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
Other 2019 Freightliner Cascadia problems
Driver assistance 11Steering 6Body 4Acceleration 3Engine 3Lights 3Suspension 3Fuel system 2Electrical 1Visibility 1
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