Check a VIN

2012 Freightliner M2 problems

The most common problem on the 2012 Freightliner M2 is driver assistance and stability. Its complaint count is close to a typical M2 model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
2
Recalls
9
Service bulletins
128
Worst area
Driver assistance

The worst 2012 Freightliner M2 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Driver assistance
    1
  • Engine
    1
  • Suspension
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Driver assistance
    1
  • Engine
    1
  • Suspension
    1

Recalls 9

Service brakes, air: supply: reservoir/tankReported May 14, 2019 · 741 vehicles affected
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

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported June 3, 2015 · 3,200 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 15V343000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switchReported April 14, 2015 · 3,571 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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."
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 15V220000 · Recall details

Equipment adaptive/mobilityReported February 25, 2015 · 117 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling various specialty vehicles modified by Farber and equipped with model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Risk
If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy
Farber will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1‑800‑331‑3188, or Ricon customer service at 1‑800‑322‑2884. Farber's number for this recall is 14E-041.

Recall number 15V112000 · Recall details

Fuel system, other: storage: tank assemblyReported October 29, 2014 · 65 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Daimler Trucks of North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Freightliner Cascadia and M2 trucks manufactured June 2, 2011 to October 23, 2014. The vehicles are not in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 303, "Fuel System Integrity Of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles." Specifically, the tail pipe on these vehicles terminates under the compressed natural gas (CNG) tank and can overheat the fuel system.
Risk
Due to the area of its placement, the exhaust system forces heat around, and may overheat, the fuel system components, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy
DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will extend the tailpipe beyond the cabinet, free of charge. The recall began Feburary 12, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑745‑8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-671.

Recall number 14V680000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported February 21, 2014 · 3,258 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 14V080000 · Recall details

Electronic stability control (ESC)Reported September 8, 2011 · 4,444 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 11V465000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported August 31, 2011 · 43 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
A short circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 11V455000 · Recall details

Power train: drivelineReported April 26, 2011 · 347 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 freightliner cascadia, m2, and western star 4900 vehicles, manufactured from january 11, 2011, through february 21, 2011, and equipped with a meritor driveline. The tubing used to assemble the affected drivelines has a nonconforming seam weld with insufficient bonding of the material.
Risk
A tube seam weld that is not properly bonded can result in the driveline assembly fracturing along the length of the tube seam weld. The fractured tube can twist or sever. This could result in additional damage to the driveline, the vehicle to which it is attached and any additional nearby components. This may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the drivelines free of charge. The safety recall began on june 27, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 11V257000 · Recall details

See all 9 recalls for the 2012 Freightliner M2

Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Freightliner M2 128

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 128 bulletins for the 2012 Freightliner M2

What 2012 Freightliner M2 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 29, 2018 · Driver assistance, Engine · 430,000 miles · GA

The intake heater light comes on when I increase speed over 25 miles and hour. Once at 55 miles an hour, the light stays on.

Filed Nov 6, 2017 · Suspension · 5,600 miles · CA

Sway bar vertical link bushings are pulverized completely gone within 1500 miles after replacement causing an unsafe top heavy roll of the motorhome reducing steering control of the vehicle. I've had freightliner san diego replace these bushing, I've replaced them twice, and had a suspension shop replace them once. Every other seneca owner built on the freightliner m2 chassis experiences the same issue. Freightliner recognizes there is an issue through a technical service bulletin tsb-32-47, but has not issued a recall addressing this serious roll affecting control of the vehicle. Check the rv forums anyone with one of these chassis are experiencing the same vehicle control over the inadequacy of the connection points of the sway bar. I first noticed the bushing were gone after our first trip in the motorhome attempting to repair an obviously poorly designed suspension component.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 2012 Freightliner M2 before you buy

Compare the 2012 Freightliner M2

Other model years

20062007200820092010201220132014201520162017201920212022

Questions about the 2012 Freightliner M2

Is the 2012 Freightliner M2 reliable?

Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2012 Freightliner M2, close to a typical M2 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Freightliner M2?

Driver assistance and stability, with 1 complaint. Next is engine (1).

How many recalls does the 2012 Freightliner M2 have?

9 recalls, covering service brakes, air, engine and engine cooling and exterior lighting.

Share your experience with the 2012 Freightliner M2

Tell other buyers what went wrong and what it cost. We review every report before it appears, and we never publish names, emails or VINs.

No names, contact details or links. Reports about a dealer or a person are not published.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2012 Freightliner M2?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history
Is this car on a recall?Check VIN