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Campaign 17V761 Posted November 27, 2017 438,255 units

2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia Recall 17V761: Brake Lights

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 25, 2026

Recall 17V761 affects 438,255 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 trucks for brake-light-switch failure. Free dealer repair.

Freightliner is recalling 438,255 2008-2018 Cascadia, 4700, 5700, 4900, and 6900 trucks because the brake light pressure switch can leave the brake lights off after a hard brake application. Without brake lights, other drivers lose the signal that the truck is slowing; Freightliner dealers will complete the repair free of charge.

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What's wrong?

The brake light pressure switch on 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, 4700, 5700, 4900, and 6900 trucks is part of the air-brake signal circuit. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the switch senses brake pressure and tells the rear brake lights to turn on. That signal lets drivers behind the truck know it is slowing.

On affected trucks, air pressure builds between the sensor and its sealed electrical connector over time. After hard brake applications, that trapped pressure interferes with the switch signal. With a lighter brake pedal application afterward, the brake lights do not activate even though the truck is braking.

There is no warning sign before failure. The brake pedal can feel normal, and the driver does not get a clear in-cab clue that the rear brake lights stayed off.

Who's affected?

Spans Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, and 6900 trucks across the 2008-2018 model years, with brake-light switch and brake-light scope listed separately.

2018 Freightliner Cascadia Switch
2018 Freightliner Cascadia Brake lights
2018 Western Star 4700 Switch
2018 Western Star 4700 Brake lights
2018 Western Star 5700 Switch
Units affected438,255
Field incidentsNHTSA has logged no field incidents to date.

The year, make, 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?

When brake lights fail to illuminate, drivers behind the truck lose the signal that it is slowing, increasing crash risk. Treat any brake-light problem as a reason to schedule service soon and use extra space in traffic until it is fixed. Repair is free at any franchised Freightliner dealer.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, 4700, 5700, 4900, or 6900 is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the free brake-light pressure switch repair that fixes brake-light activation after hard braking.
  3. Bring the owner letter if it arrived. If not, reference recall number 17V761 when you call.
  4. Drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Avoid hard brake applications when traffic allows and leave extra following distance.
  5. Call Freightliner customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions before your dealer visit.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a Freightliner technician performs the recall repair for the brake light pressure switch condition. The work addresses brake light activation during light brake pedal use after a hard brake application. The recall repair is free at a Freightliner authorized service facility, including parts and labor. When you schedule service, give the service desk recall FL-756 if they ask for the campaign number.

Timeline

November 27, 2017 NHTSA published the recall
January 25, 2018 Dealer notification began
January 25, 2018 Dealer notification ended
January 25, 2018 Interim owner notification (was planned for this date)
May 9, 2018 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 17V761?

Recall 17V761 covers 438,255 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, 4700, 5700, 4900, and 6900 trucks with a brake light pressure switch issue. After hard braking, light brake-pedal pressure can fail to turn on the brake lights, increasing crash risk. Dealers will repair the vehicles for free.

What should I do if my 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, 4700, 5700, 4900, or 6900 truck is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 17V761. If it is, contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the brake light pressure switch repair. Reference recall number 17V761 or DTNA recall number FL-756 when you call.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the remedy states that dealers will repair the affected vehicles free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Freightliner dealer.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is that other drivers do not get a brake-light signal when the truck is slowing. The recall concerns brake lights that fail to illuminate after hard brake applications followed by light brake-pedal pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

When did the recall repair become available?

The recall repair became available after the recall began on May 9, 2018. Daimler issued interim owner notifications on January 22, 2018. If your VIN is included and the repair was never completed, a franchised Freightliner dealer can complete the free remedy.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V761000
Freightliner customer service1-800-547-0712
NHTSA recall #17V761
NHTSA recall # (full)17V761000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →