Exterior lighting: brake lights (Freightliner, FCCC and Thomas Built Buses)
Vehicle recall 08V-602. NHTSA received DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA’s report on Nov 19, 2008.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.
The short answer
NHTSA received DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA’s report on Nov 19, 2008. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS WOULD NOT PROVIDE A SIGNAL TO FOLLOWING DRIVERS THAT THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR.
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 15,686 MY 2005 THROUGH 2009 FCCC AND THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 2005 AND MAY 2008 EQUIPPED WITH A CERTAIN BRAKE LAMP AIR PRESSURE SWITCH.
THE CONTACTS IN THE PRESSURE SWITCH FOR THE LOW CURRENT BRAKE LAMP SIGNAL TO THE CHASSIS ECU MAY HAVE BECOME CONTAMINATED BY SILICONE DURING ASSEMBLY CAUSING INSULATING DEPOSITS TO BUILD UP OVER TIME PREVENTING THE BRAKE LAMPS FROM OPERATING.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Exterior lighting: brake lights.
What should you do?
DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MARCH 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712 OR THOMAS BUILT BUSES AT 1-336-889-4871.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: DAIMLER TRUCKS’ RECALL NO. FL-538.CUSTOMERS MAY 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.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 15,686 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- Freightliner S2and 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, before the model years listed here
- FCCC B2and 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, before the model years listed here
- Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2and 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 28, 2026.