Recall 11V514 affects 9,689 2005-2011 Freightliner Cascadia, Columbia, Century, Coronado, and Classic Xl trucks for rack-and-pinion steering bearing corrosion. Repair will be free at any franchised Freightliner dealer once available.
Freightliner recall 11V514 covers 9,689 2005-2011 Cascadia, Columbia, Century, Coronado, and Classic Xl trucks with rack and pinion steering systems. The lower pinion bearing can corrode and fail, sending hydraulic fluid to a turn port and causing unexpected left or right steering input that makes the truck harder to control and raises crash risk.
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What's wrong?
The rack and pinion steering system on 2005-2011 Freightliner Cascadia, Classic Xl, Coronado, Century, and Columbia trucks turns steering-wheel movement into side-to-side movement at the front wheels. The pinion is the gear that drives that motion, and the lower pinion bearing supports it so the steering gear stays aligned. Hydraulic fluid also helps reduce steering effort as the driver turns.
On affected trucks, the lower pinion bearing can corrode and fail. Once the bearing fails, it can damage the spool valve seals inside the steering gear. The spool valve is the hydraulic control valve that sends assist pressure where it belongs. With the seal damaged, fluid can flow to a right or left turn port instead of returning through the return port, creating steering assist in the wrong direction.
There is no warning sign before failure. If the bearing and seal fail, the first thing a driver notices can be an unexpected steering response.
Who's affected?
Spans five Freightliner truck lines across the 2005-2011 model years, all tied to the steering system.
| 2011 Freightliner Cascadia | steering system |
|---|---|
| 2010 Freightliner Cascadia | steering system |
| 2009 Freightliner Cascadia | steering system |
| 2008 Freightliner Cascadia | steering system |
| 2007 Freightliner Cascadia | steering system |
| 2006 Freightliner Cascadia | steering system |
| 2005 Freightliner Cascadia | steering system |
| 2008 Freightliner Classic Xl | steering system |
| 2007 Freightliner Classic Xl | steering system |
| 2007 Freightliner Coronado | steering system |
| 2008 Freightliner Coronado | steering system |
| 2008 Freightliner Century | steering system |
| 2011 Freightliner Classic Xl | steering system |
| 2010 Freightliner Century | steering system |
| 2009 Freightliner Columbia | steering system |
| 2005 Freightliner Century | steering system |
| 2007 Freightliner Century | steering system |
| 2010 Freightliner Coronado | steering system |
| 2008 Freightliner Columbia | steering system |
| 2011 Freightliner Coronado | steering system |
| 2005 Freightliner Classic Xl | steering system |
| 2009 Freightliner Coronado | steering system |
| 2005 Freightliner Columbia | steering system |
| 2006 Freightliner Columbia | steering system |
| 2007 Freightliner Columbia | steering system |
| 2011 Freightliner Columbia | steering system |
| 2011 Freightliner Century | steering system |
| 2009 Freightliner Century | steering system |
| 2006 Freightliner Century | steering system |
| 2005 Freightliner Coronado | steering system |
| 2006 Freightliner Classic Xl | steering system |
| 2006 Freightliner Coronado | steering system |
| 2010 Freightliner Columbia | steering system |
| 2010 Freightliner Classic Xl | steering system |
| 2009 Freightliner Classic Xl | steering system |
| Units affected | 9,689 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
An affected truck can steer left or right unexpectedly, which makes it harder to control and increases the risk of a crash. If the steering changes unexpectedly, slow down, move out of traffic when safe, and call a Freightliner dealer before another trip. Repair will be free at any franchised Freightliner dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2005-2011 Freightliner Cascadia, Classic Xl, Coronado, Century, or Columbia is included in this recall.
- Wait for Freightliner or dealer confirmation before scheduling if the dealer says the steering remedy is not open for your truck.
- Contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to ask for the rack-and-pinion inspection that checks lower pinion bearing corrosion linked to unexpected steering movement.
- Bring any Freightliner owner letter, and reference recall number 11V514 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Leave extra room and stop if the steering pulls unexpectedly left or right.
What happens at the repair
Once the repair opens, a Freightliner technician will inspect the lower pinion bearing in the rack and pinion steering system for corrosion. If corrosion is found, the dealer will replace the rack and pinion system. If the bearing is clean, the technician will pack the bearing with grease, replace the rubber bellows, and add sealant between the bellows and rack housing. Parts and labor will be free under the recall.
Timeline
| October 13, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 6, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V514?
Recall 11V514 covers 9,689 2005-2011 Freightliner Cascadia, Columbia, Century, Coronado, and Classic Xl trucks with rack and pinion steering systems. The lower pinion bearing can corrode and fail, which can damage steering seals and cause unexpected steering movement.
What should I do if my 2005-2011 Freightliner Cascadia, Classic Xl, Coronado, Century, or Columbia is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 11V514. If it is, contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the steering inspection and repair. Reference recall number 11V514 when you call. You can also contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Freightliner dealers will inspect the lower bearing for corrosion. If corrosion is found, the rack and pinion system will be replaced free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is unexpected steering movement. If the bearing fails and damages the spool valve seals, hydraulic fluid can flow to the wrong steering port. That can make the truck harder to control and increase crash risk.
What if I bought this Freightliner truck used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included, then call a franchised Freightliner dealer with recall number 11V514.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V514000 |
|---|---|
| Freightliner customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V514 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V514000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall 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 →