Recall 11V257 covers 347 2011-2012 Freightliner Western Star, M2, and Cascadia trucks for defective driveline tube welds. Repair is free at any franchised Freightliner dealer.
Freightliner is recalling 347 2011-2012 Western Star, M2, and Cascadia vehicles because Meritor driveline tubing has an improperly bonded tube seam weld. A fractured tube can twist or sever, damage nearby components, and increase the risk of a crash; the Freightliner dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driveline on 2011-2012 Freightliner Western Star, M2, and Cascadia trucks is the set of shafts and joints that carries engine torque from the transmission toward the drive axle. These trucks use a Meritor driveline built from metal tubing. That tubing has to stay straight, balanced, and fully bonded at its weld joint while it spins under load.
On affected trucks, the tubing used to build the driveline has a nonconforming weld joint with insufficient bonding of the metal. In plain terms, part of the tube was not joined as strongly as designed. A weak weld joint can open or distort as the driveline turns, which interrupts the normal transfer of power through the driveline.
There is no warning sign before failure. If the driveline starts to separate or bind, the driver is not given a listed early symptom in the recall record.
Who's affected?
Covers Western Star, M2, and Cascadia trucks across the 2011 and 2012 model years, all with the same driveline component.
| 2011 Freightliner Western Star | driveline |
|---|---|
| 2011 Freightliner M2 | driveline |
| 2012 Freightliner Western Star | driveline |
| 2012 Freightliner Cascadia | driveline |
| 2011 Freightliner Cascadia | driveline |
| 2012 Freightliner M2 | driveline |
| Units affected | 347 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific truck.
What's the safety risk?
A driveline tube seam weld that is not properly bonded can fracture along the tube. A fractured tube can twist or separate, damaging the driveline, the vehicle, and nearby components. That creates crash risk. Drive cautiously and schedule dealer service promptly. Repair will be free at any franchised Freightliner dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Freightliner Western Star, M2, or Cascadia is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Freightliner dealer and ask whether the free driveline replacement is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 11V257 when you call so the service desk can find the campaign.
- Schedule the driveline replacement that fixes the non-bonded tube weld before it fractures.
- Bring the recall notice if Daimler Trucks mailed one, along with any service records tied to the driveline.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Freightliner technician replaces the affected Meritor driveline assemblies with compliant parts. The dealer repair will be free once the repair is available, and parts and labor are covered under the recall. The work is aimed at removing the driveline tubing that was built with insufficient weld bonding. Schedule through a franchised Freightliner service desk when the recall repair is open for your VIN.
Timeline
| April 26, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 27, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V257?
Recall 11V257 covers 347 2011-2012 Freightliner Western Star, M2, and Cascadia vehicles with Meritor drivelines that have an improperly bonded tube weld. The driveline tube can fracture, twist, or sever, increasing crash risk. Freightliner dealers replace the drivelines for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Freightliner Western Star, M2, or Cascadia is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 11V257. If it is, contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the driveline replacement. Reference recall number 11V257 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy says dealers replace the affected drivelines free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Freightliner dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is driveline fracture. If the affected tube weld fails, the driveline tube can twist or sever and damage the driveline, the vehicle, or nearby components. That damage increases crash risk, so confirm your VIN and arrange the free dealer repair if your vehicle is included.
When did the recall repair begin?
The safety recall repair began on June 27, 2011. If your VIN is included and the driveline replacement was never completed, a franchised Freightliner dealer performs the recall repair for free. Used vehicles are still eligible for the same no-cost recall repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V257000 |
|---|---|
| Freightliner customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V257 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V257000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →