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Freightliner CascadiaModel year report

2012 Freightliner Cascadia Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
263,175miles, 3 complaints with mileage
Recalls
19campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Freightliner Cascadia (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2012 Freightliner Cascadia. The part named most often is electrical system, with 11 complaints (65% of the total), followed by engine (4) and other or unknown (4). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 263,175 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 19 recall campaigns and 812 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the cables, 2 NHTSA investigations and 106 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 71 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “Cascadia 2012 constantly in and out of shop every single week since I have had this truck. Not even 5 months yet and its been in the shop and dealer every week or other week with the same problem every single time. Regen DPF is not completing and everytime I go to dealer they change one box again still problem. Dealer charges everytime which doesn't make sense because this is manufactures problem and I always have to pay for it.”

NHTSA complaint #11074391, filed 2018-02

Engine: “The contact owns a 2012 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact stated that after stopping the vehicle, it was discovered that coolant leaked from the vehicle. Upon inspection, it was determined that the coolant reservoir had cracked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the surge tank had failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 398,000. The VIN was not available.”

NHTSA complaint #10924605, filed 2016-11, 398,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “The contact owns a 2012 Freightliner Cascadia. While operating the vehicle, flames suddenly appeared from the passenger side headlight assembly. The driver immediately stopped the vehicle and applied water to extinguish the flames. The cause of the failure was not determined. Also, while driving, the speedometer displayed 12 MPH less than the actual speed traveled. An independent mechanic diagnosed that there was a computer failure. Also, there was an engine water pump leak that produced white smoke. The independent mechanic replaced the gasket in the engine. …”

NHTSA complaint #11193880, filed 2019-04

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 583 and 398,000 miles.

33%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–15067%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (3 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 263,175 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20122013201420152016320172018320192020
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

See all 19 recalls for the 2012 Freightliner Cascadia → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 812 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 812 bulletins →

Other model years of the Freightliner Cascadia

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20241492,5002———Too new
202312—7———Too new
202213138,05619———Not enough data
202116270,58421———Falling
20202651,60021——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20192950,00029——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
201811209,00026———Not enough data
20179220,00020———Not enough data
201612150,00012———Not enough data
20151655,00018———Stable
20141271,10821———Not enough data
20137149,50019———Not enough data
201217263,17519———Falling
201112111,30023———Not enough data
201012170,33323———Not enough data
200919250,63324———Stable
200888,00022———Not enough data

All Freightliner Cascadia model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Freightliner Cascadia have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2012 Freightliner Cascadia as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Freightliner Cascadia is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 11 complaints (65% of the total), followed by engine with 4.

Has the 2012 Freightliner Cascadia been recalled?

NHTSA lists 19 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Freightliner Cascadia reported?

Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 263,175 miles and the middle half falls between 583 and 398,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.