Recall 19V353 affects 2 Freightliner M2 and Ford L9000 trucks with Whelen brake lights that illuminate without pedal input. Free repair at Whelen dealers.
Stainless & Repair is recalling 2 vehicles under recall 19V353, covering 2016-2017 Freightliner M2 trucks and 1994-1995 Ford L9000 trucks fitted with Whelen brake lights that can illuminate even when the brake pedal is not pressed. False brake-light signals can confuse following drivers and raise the risk of a crash, and the repair is free at a Ford or Freightliner dealer.
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What's wrong?
The Whelen brake lights on these Freightliner M2-112 and Ford L9000 trucks are aftermarket lamps wired into the truck's brake circuit. Under normal operation, pressing the brake pedal sends voltage down the input line, and the lights turn on to warn drivers behind you that the truck is slowing. The lights are supposed to stay dark every other moment.
On affected trucks, a firmware change inside the Whelen lamps changed how the input line reads voltage. Stray electrical signals on that wire, called transient voltage, can register as a brake-pedal press even when the pedal has not been touched. Depending on how the specific truck is wired, the brake lights can light up on their own. A driver behind you sees brake lights and reacts as if you are slowing, which raises the risk of a rear-end collision.
There is no warning sign before failure. The lights illuminate without any input from the driver, and there is no dashboard alert to flag the fault.
Who's affected?
Covers two heavy-truck nameplates from different manufacturers (Ford L9000 and Freightliner M2) tied together by the same brake-light defect.
| 1994 Ford L9000 | Brake lights |
|---|---|
| 1995 Ford L9000 | Brake lights |
| 2016 Freightliner M2 | Brake lights |
| 2017 Freightliner M2 | Brake lights |
| Units affected | 2 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
Brake lights that illuminate when the driver is not braking can confuse drivers behind you and raise the risk of a rear-end crash. Watch for stop lamps staying on after you release the pedal, and have the wiring checked promptly if you see it. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1994-1995 Ford L9000 or 2016-2017 Freightliner M2 is included in this recall.
- Contact your Whelen dealer to schedule the free brake-light replacement that stops the lights from illuminating without the brake pedal being pressed.
- Bring the recall notice if Stainless & Repair has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V353 when you call.
- Call Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 or Stainless & Repair at 1-715-591-4933 with questions about the repair.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, since the brake lights can illuminate without the pedal being pressed and confuse drivers behind you.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician replaces the Whelen brake lights covered by the recall. Parts and labor are free under the recall. If you have already paid out of pocket to repair brake lights that illuminated without the pedal being pressed, the manufacturer's standard reimbursement plan covers documented expenses. Bring your receipts to the service desk when you arrive, and ask whether to contact Whelen customer service or Stainless & Repair directly to confirm your claim is on file.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 9, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 9, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| May 9, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 9, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| June 30, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V353?
Recall 19V353 covers 2 vehicles, 2016-2017 Freightliner M2-112 trucks and 1994-1995 Ford L9000 trucks, equipped with Whelen brake lights that can illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. Whelen dealers will replace the affected brake lights for free.
What should I do if my 1994-1995 Ford L9000 or 2016-2017 Freightliner M2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V353. If it is, contact a Whelen dealer to schedule the brake-light replacement. Reference recall number 19V353 when you call. The repair is free. You can also call Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 or Stainless & Repair at 1-715-591-4933.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair the defect at no cost. Whelen dealers will replace the affected brake lights free of charge regardless of where the vehicle was originally purchased or who currently owns it.
What is the safety risk?
The brake lights can illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. False brake-light activation can confuse drivers behind you about whether you are slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash. The risk is to surrounding traffic rather than to the vehicle's own braking function.
What if I bought my truck used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law requires the recall to be honored regardless of ownership history. If you never received a notice from Stainless & Repair, check your VIN to confirm whether your truck is included, then reference recall number 19V353 when you contact a Whelen dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V353000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-860-718-2331 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V353 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V353000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →