Recall 19V066 covers 3,365 2018-2020 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles for unexpected driver air bag deployment. Free final repair at franchised Freightliner dealers once available.
Freightliner is recalling 3,365 2018-2020 Cascadia trucks equipped with the optional steering wheel air bag because the driver's frontal air bag can deploy unexpectedly. An unexpected deployment can increase crash risk, and the dealer repair will be free once Freightliner makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The steering wheel air bag in affected 2018-2020 Freightliner Cascadia trucks is the driver's frontal air bag mounted in the steering wheel. It is designed to stay folded during normal driving and deploy only in a crash severe enough to call for frontal air bag protection. A clockspring inside the steering wheel keeps electrical connections working while the wheel turns.
On these trucks, incorrectly attached electrical grounds can let current travel through the steering wheel circuit in the wrong way. That current can damage the clockspring. Under certain electrical conditions, the damaged circuit can trigger the driver's air bag when there has been no crash.
There is no warning sign before failure. The owner does not get a reliable symptom to watch for before an unintended deployment, so the defect is tied to the wiring and clockspring condition rather than a change in how the truck drives.
Who's affected?
The same front air bag component is listed across the 2018-2020 Cascadia model years.
| 2018 Freightliner Cascadia | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2019 Freightliner Cascadia | front air bag |
| 2020 Freightliner Cascadia | front air bag |
| Units affected | 3,365 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 2 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag can distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash. Until the final remedy is available, contact a Freightliner dealer about the free interim air bag removal and drive cautiously. Repair will be free at any franchised Freightliner dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2020 Freightliner Cascadia is included in this recall.
- Watch for Freightliner final-remedy instructions before scheduling the final repair.
- Contact a franchised Freightliner dealer about the free interim driver-air-bag removal that addresses the unexpected air bag deployment risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Freightliner mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V066 and Freightliner recall FL806 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the interim repair is complete and leave extra following distance.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Freightliner technician removes the driver's frontal air bag as the interim remedy. That interim work is free under the recall. Freightliner is still developing the final remedy program, so do not treat the final repair as ready to schedule until the dealer confirms it has opened. Once available, the final dealer repair will be free. Freightliner has a general reimbursement plan on file, so ask customer service or the service desk how to submit documentation for any related repair you already paid for.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| February 7, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| March 31, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 31, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| July 19, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V066?
Recall 19V066 covers 3,365 2018-2020 Freightliner Cascadia trucks equipped with the optional steering wheel air bag. The driver's frontal air bag can deploy unexpectedly, increasing crash risk. Freightliner dealers remove the air bag as an interim repair for free.
What should I do if my 2018-2020 Freightliner Cascadia is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 19V066. If it is, contact a franchised Freightliner dealer and ask for the interim air bag repair. Reference recall number 19V066 or Freightliner recall FL806 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 19V066, Freightliner dealers remove the steering wheel air bag as the interim remedy free of charge.
Is it safe to drive my Freightliner Cascadia before the repair?
The recall does not include a do-not-drive order. The safety issue is still serious: the driver's frontal air bag can deploy unexpectedly and increase crash risk. Confirm your VIN, then ask a Freightliner dealer how soon the interim repair is available for your truck.
When were owners notified about recall 19V066?
Freightliner sent an interim owner notification on April 5, 2019, and the recall began July 19, 2019. Used-truck owners or owners who changed addresses after those dates should still check the VIN, since the VIN decides whether recall 19V066 applies.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V066000 |
|---|---|
| Freightliner customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V066 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V066000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
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 →