Vehicle recall 09V400000 · October 8, 2009
Western Star 4900, Sterling 8500 and 4 more models
Increased internal grid heater resistance caused by improperly tightened screws may melt the solder on the grid heater circuit board leading to a short circuit.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Daimler trucks is recalling model year 2007-2010 freightliner, sterling and western star vehicles equipped with detroit diesel DD15 EPA07 engines which were manufactured with grid heaters. Increased internal grid heater resistance caused by improperly tightened screws may melt the solder on the grid heater circuit board leading to a short circuit.
- Consequence
- A short-circuited grid heater could result in a vehicle fire and injury to vehicle occupants.
- Remedy
- The engine control logic will be reprogrammed free of charge by detroit diesel authorized repair facilities and direct warranty customers to provide cold weather starting without the need of a grid heater. The safety recall began on November 4, 2009. Owners may contact detroit diesel at 1-313-592-5800 and daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
- Notes
- Daimler trucks recall no. 09C-4.OWNERS may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 09V400000
- Reported to NHTSA
- October 8, 2009
- Filed by
- DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA
- Owner notification
- November 4, 2009
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 18,067
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Engine and engine cooling
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Freightliner Cascadia (2007-2010): 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Freightliner Century (2007-2010): 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Freightliner Columbia (2007-2010): 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Sterling 8500 (2007-2010): 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Sterling 9500 (2007-2010): 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Western Star 4900 (2007-2010): 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
Has your Freightliner been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Freightliner dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.