Once again the odometer has reset on my Tropical DP. This is about the fourth time it has done this. My nine year old motorhome currently has 44 miles on the odometer! Maybe I should sell. Last time I had it in the Freightliner dealer they told me there was nothing they could do to get the correct miles back on the odometer. I asked if they could tap into the computer systems in the engine and get the true mileage from there. They told me they thought they could so while I had it in for service I asked them too. When I went to pick it up they advised they were unable to get the info. That was last year and I forgot the exact reason they couldn't do it, but I do recall the service manager saying there were some things they could do but it would be about two hours labor and he still wasn't sure he could get the mileage.Anybody else have this problem with a Freightliner chassis? It's not that big of a deal right now, but at some point I'm going to want to sell this RV or trade it in and I'll have to know the real mileage to do that. I know it's under 30K but who is going to just take my word for that when trying to sell it?

An interesting problem. Mine's on a 2004/2005 Freightliner chassis and we haven't had any problems.Bill

I would contact Freightliner. Directly. If I didn't get a resolution I would send then a letter notifying them that the information is being forwarded to proper authorities. I would guess that may get their attention.

I'm still looking for anybody else who this has happened to. I posted on here a couple of years ago the first time this happened and found nobody else. I had an RV repair guy come out and fix something on my RV when we were in a campground in Vegas and I asked him about the odometer problem. He told me it happens all the time and he said a Freightliner dealer could easily plug into the internal computer and get the true mileage. Like I already said, the Freightliner center said it wasn't so simple. I'm just trying to find out if anybody else had the issue and how they got it resolved. Sounds like I may be the only one.

I believe there are various rules and laws covering changing the mileage. Mine had to be sent to a facility with paperwork in NH to correct the mileage. Does your tranny also have the mileage? Find out who can repair it and it may not be FL.It doesn't surprise me at all the FL couldn't change it. However the fact that they didn't know and tell you how to get it done would be a red flag for that facility.

My understanding is they are not allowed to change it. I'm just hoping I'll be able to get the correct mileage so when it comes time to sell I'll have it, or can get it then. Now if I had 200k miles on it I may not care that much, but since it's under 30k I want to be able to prove to a buyer that it's a low mileage RV. On the Tranny, I have no idea if it has the mileage. I would assume the mileage would have to come from some type of computer that is hooked to the speed pick up which is in the tranny correct?

Odometer Reset | Good Sam Community

Jagtech
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
Not sure about Freightliner, but some vehicles have a small lithium battery mounted diredtly on the cluster circuit board, to retain settings like odometer. If that battery dies, resetting the odometer won't work for long before it happens again. Battery or cluster must be replaced. As I said, not sure if this is the case with Freighliner.
Canadian_Rainbi
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
We had this happen about 5 years ago at a Cummins shop. Freightliner had replaced a faulty oil pressure sensor and sent the rig next door to have Cummins reprogram the computer for the new sensor. They goofed and took out all the previous data including odometer reading. They were unable to get it back.

We keep an accurate trip log on paper anyway so are able to show what the real mileage should be. If I recall, the odometer shows something like 25,000 miles or 40,000 kilometers low but since we've put on almost 100,000 miles since I don't think it's a big deal.

Make note somewhere what the mileage was when it reset.
mowermech
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
You will not have any problems until you sell the vehicle.
Even then, you just check the "Odometer reading is not the correct mileage; WARNING: Odometer Discrepancy!" box on the title ("Odometer Certification by Seller"), and you are covered.
In some states, any vehicle over 10 years old does not have to have an odometer certification when the title is transferred.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Apr 14, 2014
Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
We had this happen about 5 years ago at a Cummins shop. Freightliner had replaced a faulty oil pressure sensor and sent the rig next door to have Cummins reprogram the computer for the new sensor. They goofed and took out all the previous data including odometer reading. They were unable to get it back.

We keep an accurate trip log on paper anyway so are able to show what the real mileage should be. If I recall, the odometer shows something like 25,000 miles or 40,000 kilometers low but since we've put on almost 100,000 miles since I don't think it's a big deal.

Make note somewhere what the mileage was when it reset.

And the problem is I don't know the mileage when it reset. I know about what it was the first time I did it, but it's now done it three times. I'm pretty sure I'm close to 30k miles, but in reality it could be anyplace from 26k to 32k on the outside.
donsuefuggrwe
Explorer
Apr 14, 2014
Keep on pushing the dash reset button. My Tradewinds does strange things after I fuel up and reset the trip figures. Vary the time of your push and try it for several minutes. Play with it. Key on/off. Engine running, off. Good luck and as with all electric problems turn all other powered stuff off.
Rollnhome
Explorer
Apr 14, 2014
I had to check odometer on my rig for extended warranty work. Last shop wrote down wrong mileage. Freightliner pluged into the onboard computer and retrieved the information, charged me 1/2 hr. for labor. Go to a Freightliner Oasis Center or call Freightliner Help line.
okgc
Explorer
Apr 14, 2014
Rollnhome wrote:
I had to check odometer on my rig for extended warranty work. Last shop wrote down wrong mileage. Freightliner pluged into the onboard computer and retrieved the information, charged me 1/2 hr. for labor. Go to a Freightliner Oasis Center or call Freightliner Help line.

This issue was discussed when I attended Camp Freightliner. They said the actual mileage was easily accessible.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Apr 14, 2014
okgc wrote:
Rollnhome wrote:
I had to check odometer on my rig for extended warranty work. Last shop wrote down wrong mileage. Freightliner pluged into the onboard computer and retrieved the information, charged me 1/2 hr. for labor. Go to a Freightliner Oasis Center or call Freightliner Help line.

This issue was discussed when I attended Camp Freightliner. They said the actual mileage was easily accessible.

All I can say is the Freightliner dealer in Lathrop California couldn't figure out how to easily do it. I think I'll just forget about it for now as I really only need to know it when it comes time to sell and I don't anticipate doing that for a while. So if they're able to get it now they will be able to get it then so I'll wait until then to take back to Freightliner.
powderman426
Explorer
Apr 15, 2014
2bzy2c wrote:
powderman426 wrote:
I would contact Freightliner. Directly. If I didn't get a resolution I would send then a letter notifying them that the information is being forwarded to proper authorities. I would guess that may get their attention.

Good idea. But who would be the "proper authorities?"

Probably these guys http://www.nhtsa.gov/Odometer-Fraud
msmith1199
Explorer II
Apr 15, 2014
This has nothing to do with odometer fraud. It's a malfunction.

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