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Freightliner Trucks / Daimler Trucks North America review: avoid freightliner smart shift transmission! 5

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12:00 am EDT
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Sold heavily by the company, the smart shift technology has not been perfected. I purchased 3 m2's in feb. 2007 with the technology and all are having problems. what's worse, is that the electronics are so complicated the service techs can't fix them. they try to get instructions from mercedes (maker of smart shift) but it appears the troubleshooting is either unclear or "over their heads". both dealerships in orlando and tampa can't fix the problem.

I'm 13 days in the shop with no results on a new vehicle. don't make the same mistake.

5 comments
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BigBobby
, US
Nov 17, 2020 7:30 am EST

I have a 2021 Cascadia. Throughly surprised with the auto shift, overall great truck. Only minor complaints. The fridge needs a more secure lock. You hit a bump and the door has been open for the last 400 miles. I use duct tape to keep it secure. Cup holders are needed in the bunk area. And there are a ton of 12 volt plugs, and the inverter of course, but we need USB ports. I have 6-7 devices that need ports that I have to use adapter plugs for.
Thanks

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steve marsh
Magee, US
Mar 19, 2012 5:54 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

1999 Dutch Star RV on Freightliner chassis in for service. I was charged 17 hrs.@$115.00/hr for computer search for problem that they were not able to find or fix and made problem worse. Bill was $2, 795.95 with no results other than new alternator and batteries. Their computer work caused more problems and I had to take it to Puckett Cat. for additional work to resolve problems with electronics. The service tech. at Empire was blowing off the parking area with a back pack blower. If he is a qualified tech. he should be doing tech. jobs. There were several truck drivers that were getting very poor service and long delays for parts. One driver with Poly Trucks helped another RV owner get a belt that Empire did not have and saved him an extra 2 day wait. Do you see a problem with this shop? I sure as hell do.

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Lee C Benfield
Box Elder, US
May 06, 2015 1:03 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

We have a 2007 M2-106 with an MBE Auto-shift transmission. We've had constant problems with jerking with it since we bought it. They did the computer reprogramming several times. It would act right for a short while and revert back to jerking. The truck now has 205, 000 miles on it. We are full-time RVers and use it to haul our fifth wheel. Two weeks ago the transmission mal-functioned and wouldn't release the torque of the engine when coming to a stop. We called the nearest Freightliner Service location which was the dealership in Pharr, Texas. They told us they would take a look at it but they would not work on it. When we asked where we could take it, they told us they didn't know. We called the Freightliner dealership in Corpus Christi where we had work done before and they told us they would work on it. We limped it into Corpus Christ which is about 150 miles and made it. They have now had the truck for two weeks and we are no where yet. They replaced the clutch but now it won't go into reverse. They had the clutch replaced last Friday and they tried replacing the computer and it didn't make a difference. Where do we turn?

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bootspur
Fort Worth, US
Dec 28, 2011 3:04 am EST

Engineered obsolescence, perhaps?

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Vic2
sacramento, US
Dec 27, 2011 7:47 pm EST

We bought 4 trucks with the same type transmission and 3 of them have gone out now and all have been around 200, 000 miles. This seems like more than just a simple coincident.

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