VehicleVerdict

2021 Freightliner Business Class M2 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 2 complaints on file for the 2021 Freightliner Business Class M2 — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 14 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

2

NHTSA complaints

14

Recalls

0

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2021 compare to other Business Class M2 years?

See all Business Class M2 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2021 Freightliner Business Class M2 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Other150%
Transmission150%

Does the 2021 Freightliner Business Class M2 have recalls?

14 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

25V760000SuspensionNovember 4, 2025 · 18,783 units

Defect

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

Dealers will inspect and tighten the fasteners, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2025. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1027.

23V299000Electrical SystemApril 26, 2023 · 266 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain short wheelbase 2020-2024 Freightliner Cascadia, 2021-2024 Freightliner M2 Business Class, 2022 Western Star 4700, and 2020 Freightliner Classic Cascadia vehicles. The vehicle is equipped with an electronic stability control system and tire combination that may understeer during a J-turn. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 136, "Electronic Stability Control Systems on Heavy Vehicles."

Consequence

Understeering during a J-turn may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will replace the tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL971.

22V919000Tires & WheelsDecember 12, 2022 · 49 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Freightliner 114SD, 2023 Freightliner 122SD, 2020 Western Star 4700, 2019-2022 Western Star 4900, 2019-2023 Freightliner Business Class M2, and 2021 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with tires that are not compatible with their 8.25-inch rims. 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

Driving with tires that are not compatible with their rims can reduce tire performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the tires, 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 FL-962.

22V817000BrakesNovember 1, 2022 · 219,390 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Freightliner Cascadia, 2020-2022 Freightliner Business Class M2, and 2022 Freightliner 114SD, and 2020-2023 Western Star 49X, 2021-2023 Western Star 47X, and 2021-2022 Western Star 57X vehicles. The brake modulator valves on the front axle may corrode and cause the vehicle to pull to the affected side during an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) braking event.

Consequence

Brakes that pull to one side during an ACC braking event may cause a sudden change in vehicle direction, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake modulator valves, as necessary. Some vehicles will have a software update which will alert driver when a replacement is required. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning October 16, 2023. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-958. This recall expands and replaces previous recall 20V-390. All vehicles previously repaired under recall 20V-390 will need to have the new remedy performed.

22V118000BrakesMarch 2, 2022 · 11 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Freightliner M2 vehicles. The brake drum may contact the hub assembly, causing the brake drum to crack.

Consequence

A cracked brake drum can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

All vehicles have been remedied, therefore no owner notification letters are necessary. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-920.

21V369000SteeringMay 19, 2021 · 8,482 units

Defect

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.

21V326000Fuel SystemMay 7, 2021 · 9,662 units

Defect

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.

21V256000SteeringApril 12, 2021 · 12,470 units

Defect

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.

21V018000BrakesJanuary 20, 2021 · 133 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling 2021 Western Star 4700 and 5700, Freightliner Business Class M2, Cascadia, and Custom Chassis XC Chassis vehicles manufactured with a certain steering arm configuration with air disc brakes identified by the axle assembly supplier. On certain vehicles, one of the six brake caliper mounting bolts on the driver side steer axle may have been incorrectly tightened.

Consequence

The loose bolt could result in the other caliper bolts to loosen. Insufficiently tightened bolts may not provide adequate clamping force between the brake caliper and brake anchor plate, resulting in reduced brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-873.

20V807000BrakesDecember 21, 2020 · 80 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021 Freightliner Custom Chassis MC, Business Class M2, Custom Chassis MBC Chassis, Custom Chassis S2 Chassis, Custom Chassis MT55 Chassis, and 2022 Custom Chassis Saf-T-Liner C2 vehicles. The hydraulic caliper tie bar support fasteners on the steer axles may not have been properly tightened or the tie bar may have not been installed in some cases.

Consequence

A dangling tie bar could come in contact with the rotating wheel-end components or damage may occur from the brake parts flexing. Either scenario may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect both steer axle wheel-ends to make sure that the four tie bar mounting fasteners are properly tightened. If the required tie bar is missing, the caliper anchor mounts and functionality (brake pad slide pins and pad movement) will be inspected before installing a tie bar. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-871.

20V660000SuspensionOctober 27, 2020 · 1,411 units

Defect

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.

20V527000Electrical SystemSeptember 1, 2020 · 9,665 units

Defect

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.

20V466000EngineAugust 7, 2020 · 5,374 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Freightliner Business Class M2 trucks. The engine harness may contact and chafe at various locations around the air compressor and the frame rail. If the wires are damaged, they may short circuit, possibly causing an engine stall.

Consequence

A engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect for adequate clearance between harness and engine, and for any engine harness damage. Vehicles with a damaged harness will receive a new harness. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 5, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-858.

20V214000LightingApril 14, 2020 · 63,175 units

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2006-2020 Freightliner Columbia, 2006-2021 Freightliner Business Class M2, 2007-2020 Freightliner Coronado, 2014-2021 Freightliner 122 SD, 2007 Sterling A 9500, 2006 Freightliner Argosy, 2006-2007 Sterling AT9500, 2008-2021 Freightliner Cascadia, 2006-2008 Freightliner Classic, 2006-2011 Freightliner Century Class, 2006-2010 Freightliner FLD, and 2017 Western Star 5700 vehicles. The rear reflective tape may be partially covered by the mudflap hanger bracket, which may reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers on the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

The vehicle's rearward visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reposition the reflective tape to ensure that it is completely visible, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL848.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

The DEF header failed on this truck and it causes the vehicle to be disabled. The DEF header is an emissions part. PART NUMBER 04-31354-004 HEADER-SSI,CONC,6 BOLT,CMNS

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · May 22, 2023

Meritor T-Case coating has failed internally. Coating has come off and is clogging the oil pump pick up tube. This can lead to catastrophic failure of the transfer case components.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 13, 2023

2021 Freightliner Business Class M2 — common questions

Is the 2021 Freightliner Business Class M2 reliable?

The record is thin — 2 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 14 recalls should be verified as completed.

Does the 2021 Freightliner Business Class M2 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns affecting the 2021 Freightliner Business Class M2. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.