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Campaign 12V552 Posted November 29, 2012 7,594 units

2010-2013 Freightliner Xb/Xc Recall 12V552: Brake Lights

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 2, 2026

Recall 12V552 affects 7,594 2010-2013 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb and Custom Chassis Xc chassis for loose diode jumpers. Free repair at any franchised Freightliner dealer.

Freightliner is recalling 7,594 2010-2013 Custom Chassis Xb and Custom Chassis Xc vehicles because diode jumpers can loosen in connectors and open circuits tied to cruise-control disengagement and brake-light operation. If the brake pedal does not cancel cruise control or illuminate the brake lights, crash risk increases; the Freightliner dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The 2010-2013 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb and Custom Chassis Xc use diode jumpers in electrical connectors for brake pedal signals. A diode jumper is a small electrical bridge that keeps current moving the intended way inside a circuit. In this recall, those brake pedal circuits tell the cruise control to disengage and tell the brake lights to illuminate when the pedal is pressed.

On affected chassis, the diode jumper can loosen inside its connector. When that happens, the circuit opens, which means the electrical path is broken. The brake pedal signal then does not reach the parts of the system that cancel cruise control or turn on the brake lights.

There is no warning sign before failure. The first sign can be brake lights that do not come on when the pedal is pressed, or cruise control that stays engaged after braking.

Who's affected?

Covers both Custom Chassis Xb and Custom Chassis Xc across the 2010-2013 model years, with cruise control, brake lights, and electrical system items tied to the same campaign.

2013 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb Cruise control
2013 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb Brake lights
2013 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb electrical system
2010 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb Cruise control
2010 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb Brake lights
Units affected7,594

A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.

What's the safety risk?

A cruise control system that stays engaged when the brakes are applied increases crash risk. If the brake lights do not illuminate, drivers behind you do not see your intent to slow or stop. Drive cautiously and schedule the inspection soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Freightliner dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2013 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb or Custom Chassis Xc is included in this recall.
  2. Watch for Freightliner recall instructions if you have not received an owner letter.
  3. Contact Freightliner customer service at (800) 547-0712 with questions and reference recall number 12V552 when you call.
  4. Ask a franchised Freightliner dealer about the diode-jumper inspection and correction that fixes the loose connector issue affecting cruise-control disengagement and brake-light operation.
  5. Bring the recall notice to the dealer if you have it.

What happens at the repair

Freightliner's remedy is for a Freightliner technician to inspect the diode jumpers and confirm they are fully locked in place. If a jumper is loose in its connector, the dealer corrects the connection so the brake-light and cruise-control shutoff circuits work as intended. The final dealer repair will be free once available. The remedy text does not give a repair time.

Timeline

November 29, 2012 NHTSA published the recall
December 26, 2012 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 12V552?

Recall 12V552 covers 7,594 2010-2013 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb and Custom Chassis Xc vehicles with diode jumpers that can loosen in their connectors. The defect can affect brake-light operation and cruise-control disengagement when the brake pedal is used.

What should I do if my 2010-2013 Freightliner Custom Chassis Xb or Custom Chassis Xc is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific chassis is included in recall 12V552. If it is, contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the diode-jumper inspection and correction. Reference recall number 12V552 when you call. The repair is free.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall remedy to be performed at no cost. Freightliner dealers will inspect the diode jumpers to confirm they are fully locked in place and will correct the vehicle free of charge.

What is the safety risk?

The risk is loss of brake-light communication and cruise-control disengagement. If the brake lights fail to illuminate, drivers behind you do not see your braking intent. If cruise control fails to disengage when the brakes are applied, crash risk increases.

What if I bought this Freightliner chassis used?

The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Custom Chassis Xb or Custom Chassis Xc is included, then call a Freightliner dealer with recall number 12V552.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V552000
Freightliner customer service(800) 547-0712
NHTSA recall #12V552
NHTSA recall # (full)12V552000

Source documents

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 →