Complaint 841947

Complaint Summary

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

Owner Narrative

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A 2010 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA TRUCK EQUIPPED WITH A SO-CALLED HARD BRAKING DETECTION SYSTEM. I AM ENGINEER MYSELF AND, AFTER A WHOLE YEAR I CAME TO A CLEAR CONCLUSION THAT THE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK ON ROAD WITH POOR CONDITIONS LIKE BUMPY OR SLIPPERY. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT TRUCK DRIVERS TAKE THE BLAME FROM THEIR COMPANY FOR THIS AND IT IS RISKY. TRUCK DRIVING IS BY ITSELF IS VERY STRESSFUL, AND IT BECOME A REAL HAZARD WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO HIT THE BRAKE BECAUSE OF A HARD BRAKING SYSTEM THAT PUT THEM INTO TROUBLE WITH THEIR BOSS. AS RESULT WE WILL HAVE CRASHES THAT COULD BE AVOIDED. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT WHEN YOU TRY TO SLOW DOWN ON BUMPY OR SLIPPERY ROAD THE ABS SYSTEM GETS ACTUATED, THE IT RECORDS A HARD BRAKING EVENT, WHICH IS WRONG. THE SYSTEM NEEDS BETTER JUDGMENT WITH POOR ROAD CONDITIONS. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IT WILL NEED MORE SENSORS AND A SOFTWARE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE HERE. IF THE SYSTEM WAS NOT AIMED AT SCARING DRIVERS I THINK IT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE IT KILLS MANY AMERICANS. I PERSONALLY KNOW SAFE DRIVERS WITH MILLION MILE ACCIDENT FREE WHO REQUESTED TO HAVE THEIR TRUCK SWITCHED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND I AM SURE A SURVEY AMONG DRIVERS WILL CONFIRM MY CONCLUSIONS. THANK YOU. *TR

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.