Recall 12V137 affects 1,046 2012-2013 Freightliner trucks for a steering wheel that is not fully seated. Repair is free at any franchised Freightliner dealer.
Freightliner recall 12V137 covers 1,046 2012-2013 Cascadia, Business Class M2, 108SD, and 114SD vehicles because steering wheel nuts with incomplete threads were installed. A steering wheel that is not fully seated can wobble and make the vehicle harder to control, and the Freightliner dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The steering wheel nut is the fastener that holds the steering wheel tight against the steering shaft. On affected 2012-2013 Freightliner Cascadia, 114SD, Business Class M2, and 108SD trucks, that joint matters because every steering input starts at the wheel and passes through the column to the rest of the steering system.
The problem is the nut itself. Freightliner says certain Property Class 04 steering wheel nuts, with incompletely formed threads, were supplied instead of the specified Property Class 05 nuts. Because the threads are not formed correctly, the nut does not create the clamp load needed to fully seat the steering wheel on the shaft when tightened to the required torque.
There is no warning sign before failure. Do not rely on a loose feel, noise, or visible movement at the steering wheel to tell you this defect is present.
Who's affected?
Covers four Freightliner truck lines across the 2012 and 2013 model years, all tied to the steering column.
| 2012 Freightliner Cascadia | steering column |
|---|---|
| 2013 Freightliner 114SD | steering column |
| 2012 Freightliner Business Class M2 | steering column |
| 2013 Freightliner 108SD | steering column |
| 2013 Freightliner Business Class M2 | steering column |
| Units affected | 1,046 |
A matching Freightliner year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific truck.
What's the safety risk?
A steering wheel that is not fully seated on the steering shaft can wobble and make the vehicle harder to control, increasing the risk of a crash. If the wheel feels loose, pull over safely and contact a Freightliner service facility. Repair will be free at any franchised Freightliner dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2013 Freightliner Cascadia, 114SD, Business Class M2, or 108SD is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Freightliner service facility to ask about the free steering-wheel-nut replacement.
- Reference recall number 12V137 when you call, and ask whether DTNA's owner notice is needed at drop-off.
- Avoid driving if the steering wheel wobbles or feels loose, since the nut defect can keep the wheel from seating fully on the steering shaft.
What happens at the repair
Freightliner's remedy is a new steering wheel nut installed at a DTNA authorized service facility. Because the available remedy status is not listed here, confirm availability before arranging service. Once the dealer repair is available for your VIN, a Freightliner technician installs the new nut so the steering wheel can be fully seated on the steering shaft. Parts and labor are free under the recall. The filing says the safety recall began on May 21, 2012.
Timeline
| April 2, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 21, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V137?
Recall 12V137 covers 1,046 Freightliner trucks with steering wheel nuts that have incompletely formed threads. The nut can fail to fully seat the steering wheel on the steering shaft, making the wheel wobble and the vehicle harder to control.
What should I do if my 2012-2013 Freightliner Cascadia, 114SD, Business Class M2, or 108SD is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 12V137. If it is, contact an authorized Freightliner service facility and reference recall 12V137. The repair is a new steering wheel nut installed free of charge.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Freightliner authorized service facilities install the new steering wheel nut free of charge. The safety recall began on May 21, 2012.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of confident steering control. If the steering wheel is not fully seated on the steering shaft, it can wobble and make the truck difficult to control, increasing crash risk. Confirm your VIN before scheduling service.
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 Freightliner truck is included, then call an authorized Freightliner service facility with recall number 12V137.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V137000 |
|---|---|
| Freightliner customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V137 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V137000 |
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 →