Recall 12V266 covers 217 2013 Freightliner, Western Star, and Thomas Built trucks and buses for front-knuckle defects. Dealer inspection and replacement are free.
Freightliner is recalling 217 2013 vehicles, including Coronado, Columbia, Cascadia, Business Class M2, Custom Chassis Xc, 4900, and Saf-T-Liner C2 models, because the Detroit front axle knuckles have a machining error near the wheel bearing area. If the spindle fails, the wheel can separate from the knuckle and cause loss of vehicle control; the dealer repair will be free once Freightliner makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The front axle knuckle on affected 2013 Freightliner trucks and buses is the steering and suspension part that holds the wheel-end hardware in position. It supports the wheel bearing area and gives the front wheel assembly a fixed place to turn while the suspension carries road load.
On Coronado, Columbia, 4900, Custom Chassis Xc, Business Class M2, Cascadia, and Saf-T-Liner C2 models, the Detroit Axle-brand front knuckle has a machining error in the wheel bearing area. That error leaves the spindle, the shaft area that supports the wheel-end assembly, more vulnerable to premature failure under normal service loads.
There is no warning sign before failure. NHTSA campaign 12V266 does not list a dashboard light, noise, or handling symptom that reliably appears first.
Who's affected?
Covers 7 2013 truck, chassis, and bus lines tied to the same front suspension component.
| 2013 Freightliner Coronado | front suspension |
|---|---|
| 2013 Freightliner Columbia | front suspension |
| 2013 Western Star 4900 | front suspension |
| 2013 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xc | front suspension |
| 2013 Freightliner Business Class M2 | front suspension |
| 2013 Freightliner Cascadia | front suspension |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | front suspension |
| Units affected | 217 |
A matching 2013 make and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
If a spindle fails, the wheel can separate from the knuckle. That can cause loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash. Schedule the inspection and repair soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Freightliner dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013 Freightliner Coronado, Columbia, 4900, Custom Chassis Xc, Business Class M2, Cascadia, or Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to ask about the free front-axle-knuckle inspection and replacement.
- Reference recall number 12V266 when you call, and ask whether Freightliner has a current repair record for your VIN.
- Avoid driving the vehicle until the dealer confirms whether the front knuckle spindle has the wheel-bearing machining defect that can lead to wheel separation.
- Call Freightliner customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions about scheduling or dealer handling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Freightliner technician inspects the Detroit Axle front axle knuckles, including the wheel bearing area tied to the spindle concern. If the inspection finds affected components, the dealer replaces them. The source remedy says the inspection and replacement are free of charge. Because the current remedy status is not listed, treat scheduling as a dealer confirmation step: call the Freightliner service desk with your VIN and ask whether the recall repair is open for your vehicle. The dealer repair will be free once available.
Timeline
| June 12, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 10, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V266?
Recall 12V266 covers 217 2013 Freightliner vehicles with Detroit axle-brand front axle knuckles. A machining error in the wheel bearing area can lead to premature spindle failure. Dealers will inspect and replace the affected components for free.
What should I do if my 2013 Freightliner Coronado, Columbia, 4900, Custom Chassis Xc, Business Class M2, Cascadia, or Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 12V266. If it is, contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the front axle knuckle inspection and any needed component replacement. Reference recall number 12V266 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Freightliner dealers will inspect the affected front axle knuckle area and replace the affected components free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 12V266?
The safety risk is loss of vehicle control. If the spindle fails, the wheel can separate from the knuckle, increasing crash risk. Confirm your VIN, then schedule the free dealer inspection and replacement if your vehicle is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V266000 |
|---|---|
| Freightliner customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V266 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V266000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →