2021 FREIGHTLINER 108SD

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

10RecallsNHTSA Verified0ComplaintsLimited Data3InvestigationsLimited Data
Expert Verdict
⚠️Elevated Concerns

The 2021 Freightliner 108SD demonstrates a concerning reliability outlook with multiple recalls focused on critical components like steering and engine systems. The recalls indicate potential safety hazards that owners should not overlook, particularly concerning stalling risks due to electrical issues.

Key Factor:Multiple critical recalls

πŸ“‹Why This Matters

For a heavy-duty vehicle like the Freightliner 108SD, having ten recalls is significant. Given the possible implications of these recallsβ€”especially those related to engine stalling and incorrect weight ratingsβ€”owners could face serious operational interruptions. The fact that there's been no reported complaints does suggest some level of manufacturing quality, but the recall issues are a flag worth noting for both current owners and prospective buyers.

Focus Area:Safety Profile
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Expert Analysis

  • πŸ“ˆ
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • ⚠️
    Primary Risk Area:Various
  • βš–οΈ
    Vs Brand: Worse than avg (0.3)
    πŸ“
    Summary: The overall risk profile for the 2021 Freightliner 108SD leans towards concerning due to multiple recalls affecting crucial systems. While it's not uncommon for commercial trucks to experience recalls, the frequency and nature of these issues present a less favorable safety trend compared to expectations for vehicles in this class.
Critical Component: Various

Safety & Reliability Score

0/100
Poor

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-80
Complaint Impact-5
Investigation Impact-15

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2021 FREIGHTLINER 108SD

Model Year2021
MakeFREIGHTLINER
Model108SD
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Scroll for more β†’
Nov13
ISSUEFirst Report
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
NEWProduction
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jul21
RECALLRecall Issued
Dec21
RECALLRecall Issued
Apr23
RECALLRecall Issued
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
May25
RECALLRecall Issued
βœ…

No Consumer Complaints Reported

Great news! There are currently no consumer complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2021 FREIGHTLINER 108SD. This is a positive indicator of owner satisfaction.

πŸ› οΈ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

EQUIPMENTENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFUEL SYSTEM, DIESELSTEERINGTIRESSUSPENSIONVISIBILITY

🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Engine Wiring

Issue: Chafing wires can short-circuit and cause engine stalling.

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Inspect wiring around the air compressor and frame rail immediately.

πŸ”

Request detailed service records showing any wiring inspections or repairs.

Campaigns:21V-12321V-45621V-789
2

Fuel Rail Assembly

Issue: Sealing washer may fail, leading to fuel rail leaks which can pose a fire hazard.

βœ…

Check for any signs of fuel leakage regularly under your vehicle.

πŸ”

'Verify if the recall has been addressed in prior maintenance records before purchasing.'

Campaigns:21V-234
πŸ’‘Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your FREIGHTLINER dealer to verify recall completion status.

Official Safety Recalls (10)

Campaign: 20V634000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Western Star 4700 and 4900 and Freightliner Coronado, 108SD and 114SD vehicles. The vehicle certification label contains incorrect information, stating a Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) that exceeds the tire capacity rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other than passenger cars."

Consequence

Incorrect weight rating information on the certification labels could result in potential overloading of the axles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install accurate GAWR labels, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-864.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Campaign: 20V527000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Freightliner 114SD, 108SD, and Business Class M2 vehicles. The engine harness wires may chafe at various locations around the air compressor and the frame rail. The damaged wires may short causing the engine to stall without any prior warning.

Consequence

An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect for adequate harness clearance and verify that the harness has not been damaged. Vehicles with a damaged harness will receive a new harness that consists of a severe duty wrapping and additional hardware. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-860.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Campaign: 21V326000

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Freightliner Custom Chass XC Chassis, 108SD, Custom Chass XB Chassis, Business Class M2, 114SD, and Western Star 4700 vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel rail and fuel lines, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-886.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Campaign: 21V256000

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Freightliner Cascadia, Business Class M2, 114SD, 108SD, 122SD, Custom Chass S2 Chassis, Custom Chass XB Chassis, Custom Chass XC Chassis, and Custom Chass MT Chassis Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700 vehicles. The steering arm and tie rod bolts may have a defective seam that can fracture.

Consequence

A fractured bolt may cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tie rod arm and steering arm bolts, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-884.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Campaign: 21V896000

TIRES

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2012-2021 Freightliner SD 108, Freightliner SD 114, 2016-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2013 Western Star 6900, 2013-2022 Western Star 4700, Western Star 4900, and 2022 49X vehicles. The tires and rims are not approved and rated for these vehicles from the Tire and Rim Association or tire manufacturer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 120, "Wheels and Rims-Other Than Passenger Cars."

Consequence

Unapproved tires that are not rated for the vehicle can cause tire performance issues, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealer will inspect and replace, as necessary, tires and rims, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 22, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall FL-908.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Campaign: 21V369000

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Freightliner 114SD, 122SD, Business Class M2, Cascadia, 108SD, Western Star 4900, 4700, 5700, Custom Chass RV Chassis, Custom Chass S2 Chassis, Custom Chass XC Chassis, Custom Chass XB Chassis, and Custom Chass MT Chassis. The tie rod clamps may be loose, which could result in loose tie rod ends that could break or detach.

Consequence

Detached or broken tie rod ends can result in steering loss, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the tie rod clamp bolts and nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-888.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Campaign: 20V660000

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Freightliner Cascadia, 2021 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD and Business Class M2 and Western Star 4700, 4900 and 5700 vehicles. The steer axle spindle nut snap-ring locking feature may be incorrectly installed or missing from the left spindle nut at the spindle.

Consequence

A missing or improperly installed locking snap ring can result in wheel-end failure and potentially a wheel-off/separation condition, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hub cap plug, and reinstall or replace of the snap-ring as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-866.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Campaign: 23V105000

STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Columbia, Coronado, Business Class M2, and 2020 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles. The drag link taper joint may not have been tightened sufficiently and could come loose, resulting in a complete separation of the drag link from the steering arm.

Consequence

Drag link separation can cause a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will inspect the drag link taper joint and repair it, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 21, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL967. This recall expands recall number 21V-689.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Campaign: 23V237000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Freightliner Business-Class M2, FCCC Business-Class M2, FCCC S2G (FCCC Business-Class M2), FCCC S2RV, FCCC SC2 (FCCC Shuttle Chassis), 2021-2022 Freightliner 108SD, and Freightliner 114SD vehicles. The windshield wiper linkages may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

Consequence

Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper arm and linkage parts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL969.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Campaign: 25V760000

SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Western Star 49X, Freightliner Business Class M2, Freightliner 114SD, Freightliner 108SD, 2021-2026 Western Star 47X, 2021-2023 Freightliner 122SD, 2022 Western Star 48X, and 2023 Western Star 4700 vehicles. The axle clamp fasteners may be loose, which can result in a loss of vehicle control.

Consequence

A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 3, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1027.

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

NHTSA Investigations

3 investigations

Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2021 108SD.

INV-2021-1000🟒 Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding 108SD performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 16,769
INV-2021-1001🟒 Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding 108SD performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 8,696
INV-2021-1002🟒 Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding 108SD performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 27,807

Consumer Complaints

0 complaints
βœ“

No consumer complaints recorded for this vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

'What are common problems with the 2021 Freightliner 108SD?'

'Common problems include potential engine stalling due to chafed wiring and fuel leaks from improper sealing washers. It's crucial for current owners to be vigilant about these issues given their early failure range.'

'How do I know if my Freightliner is part of a recall?'

'You can check your vehicle identification number (VIN) on the NHTSA website or contact your local dealer to see if your Freightliner has outstanding recalls. Regular maintenance inspections should also verify any necessary repairs related to recall campaigns.'

πŸ“ŠYear-over-Year Context

➑️Stable Pattern

Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.

🧭What This Means for You

Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

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If You Own This Vehicle

  • Immediate Action: If any recalls are listed as 'incomplete', contact a certified FREIGHTLINER service centerβ€”repairs are performed at no cost to you.
  • Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
  • Proactive tip: Enroll in FREIGHTLINER's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
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If You're Buying Used

  • Critical: Demand official documentation showing every FREIGHTLINER recall has been satisfied.
  • Investigate whether later 108SD iterations (2022+) rectified these persistent issues.
  • A pre-purchase inspection by a FREIGHTLINER specialist is mandatory given the recorded failure patterns.
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Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: February 23, 2026.