2020 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking Problems

While driving on the highway on cruise at 70mph the right front brakes locked up. The day was clear. I was driving across a bridge. The truck pulled to the right and I fought to pull it back on to the road. My company has the incident on camera. I was pulling a loaded tanker. Had the pavement been wet or snowy I could have easily jack knifed. If a vehicle would have been next to me I would have struck them. The vehicle was inspected by our mechanic and was told the system was within specs. The truck has also hard braked and pulled to the right when vehicles in the lane next to it are turning.

A collision avoidance system (CAS), also known as a pre-crash system, forward collision warning system (FCW), or collision mitigation system, is an advanced driver-assistance system designed to prevent or reduce the severity of a collision. System applied brakes bringing our Unit to a complete stop traveling 55 MPH on an Interstate while making a lane change, Because of this our Unit was rear-ended by another CMV, On board cameras video on both V1 and V2 clearly show incident. A print out of the DDEC shows code for braking system control at exact time of incident. In our fleet we have the same 2020 Freightliner Cascadia with this system and in trying to maintain the safety of our drivers and equipment no to mention our Insurance cost and CSA scores, This is a major issue as you can see on the Web the many cases and stories of these same incidents...

Semi was traveling on the highway and transporting a 48,000 pound steel coil. The steel coil was secured with 4 chains. The automatic emergency braking system engaged with nothing in front of the vehicle, causing it to suddenly come to a dead stop in traffic. This caused the steel coil to break free of its bounds, crash through the trailer and into the vehicle cab, trapping the driver.

Ascending Tehachapi Pass CA Hwy 58 Eastbound in the left lane grossing 45,000lbs and traveling at 55mph with cruise control ON. I was passing another slower moving truck(~35-40mph). Before I came along the other vehicle the highway curved to the left. The Collision Aviodance System(CAS) didn't alarm, however the cruise control cut power and Automatic Emergency Braking(AEB) hardbraked my truck reducing the speed from 55mph to 40-45mph. This was sudden and unexpected. Once I determined the issue, I applied throttle overriding the AEB/CAS. However my forward momentum was lost and accelerating uphill was slow. It was midday and clear skies. No one was following me fortunately, but sudden and unexpected braking could have had a vehicle tailing too closely(It was an uphill grade with a speed limit of 65 mph for POV) rear-end my trailer(48 foot stepdeck trailer). Please explain to me how CAS/AEB are safety systems for a CMV?!?...

On Off ramp I-40 W Segliman, AZ there was a cattle guard 10 feet before Stop sign. I was braking for Stop Sign. AEB(aka CAS Collision Aviodance System) detected the cattle guard grate as obstruction, not something flat of the pavement, and apply maximum braking(Note: I was already braking). It had been snowing that night thou at this location the road was dry. Unnecessary panic braking by automated system can cause lose of control of vehicles on wet and icy surfaces. How is it safe for the AEB/CAS system to over ride the operator's action? Doesn't the CDL driver who is a trained and licensed professional have the ability to identify and take appropriate action, in this case a cattle guard grate wasn't a safety concern, whether to brake or avoid the obstacle? I have had numerous instances that I have and haven't reported to NHTSA of the deficiencies of...

CAS actived with a Collision Warning and applied hard braking for about 1/2 second for a vehicle that stopped in a paved turnout. The stopped vehicle was not in the travel lane. There was a slight left curve and I could see the stopped vehicle. I thought the CAS May trip because I had experience FALSE Collision Warnings many times in the 88,000 miles I have driving this truck. Before the CAS Collison Warning alerted, I was not in cruise control and was accelerating with the throttle. As stated before the CAS applied hard braking for 1/2 second. I have read the Driver’s Manual about the Driver Assist, Active Braking Assist(CAS) Section 5. On page 5.6 Table 5.2 is says that the above situation can trigger Collision Warning and braking. This may be so, however this has on numerous occasions FALSE Warnings, applied partial braking, and 3 times emergency braking...

Wednesday 13 July, 2022 6:45pm PDT. Location US395 Lakeview, OR. Collision Avoidance System(CAS) applied maximum AEB braking for a false detection of obstruction in my travel lane. I was following a pickup and horse trailer at about 45mph. The pickup signaled a left turn and slowed. I applied minimum braking. The pickup and trailer turned clearing my travel lane(the tail end of the trailer was in the opposing lane). At this moment the CAS detected a collision warning(I was still applying some braking) and the AEB slammed on the brakes for about half second then canceled. The CAS has falsely detects numerous incidents a day for the 7 months I have driven this truck. The above incident has been the most severe. Other false incidents range from warning(without braking), cutting power to engine, to applying some amount of braking. At NO TIME during this period did the CAS detected a...

I DRIVE A 2020 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA EQUIPPED WITH THE MERITOR WABCO ON GUARD COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM ROUTINELY SIGNALS AN IMPENDING COLLISION AND APPLIES THE BRAKES, SOMETIMES IN A VERY AGGRESSIVE WAY, FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE SYSTEM TAKES COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE DRIVER TO STOP THE HARD APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ALL ON GUARD CMS SYSTEMS DO THIS OCCASIONALLY. I BELIEVE THIS SYSTEM IS UNSAFE AND MERITOR WABCO SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BE. COMPANY SAYS TRUCK IS NOT SHOWING A BRAKING EVENT ON THEIR END EITHER THIS HAS HAPPENED ATOTAL OF 3 TIMES. THE TRUCKS LANE GUIDANCE SENSOR IS GOING OFF EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO LINE TO GUIDE IT AND THE TRACTION SENSOR COMES ON EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T BREAK TRACTION. *TR