2008 Autocar WX problems

What is wrong

Autocar, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Xpert, 2010-2020 Xspotter, 2008-2020 Xpeditor, 2008-2010 WXLL and WX vehicles. A worn parking brake control valve can leak air into the vent line, creating excessive back pressure and causing the parking brake to release unexpectedly.

Risk

The unexpected release of the parking brake may allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will remove the vent line and fitting from the valve, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 23, 2023. Owners may contact Autocar customer service at 1‑888‑218‑3611. Autocar's number for this recall is ACX-2023 ACTT-2301.

Recall number 23V023000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 ACX, WX, and WXLL vehicles manufactured July 30, 2007, through February 10, 2014, and equipped with certain Cummins Westport Model ISL G or ISX12 G engines. Condensation in the intake manifold may freeze during cold weather conditions and interfere with the proper operation of the intake manifold pressure sensor.

Risk

The improper operation of the sensor could induce elevated exhaust temperatures or flames from the exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire or burn injury to a person near the exhaust pipe.

Remedy

Cummins Inc. and Cummins Wesport Inc. will notify owners, and authorized Cummins service facilities will upload a new ECM calibration, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2014. Owners may contact Autocar at 1‑765‑489‑5499 or Cummins Inc. at 1‑800‑343‑7357. Autocar's number for this recall is A-1402.

Recall number 14V132000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar, LLC is recalling certain model year 2005-2013 ACX, WX, and WXLL trucks built November 16, 2004, through September 10, 2012. On the affected vehicles, the air brake systems were built without the required air tank drain valve. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk

Air tanks with valves omitted will not drain if moisture is introduced into the tank, potentially reducing air capacity in the air brake system, which could cause a reduction in brake performance and equipment durability, thus increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Autocar will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2013. Owners may contact Autocar at 1‑765‑489‑5499. Autocar's recall campaign number is A-1302.

Recall number 13V184000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 wx and wxr heavy duty class 8 lcoe vehicles. The affected vehicles may develop cracks in the top flange of the front frame rail extension. Over time, the crack may propagate across the extension bracket, potentially causing the extension bracket to deform under load. These tires are all asymmetrical tread patterns with "outer" indicated on the outside sidewall. The outside sidewall contains the full tire identification number including the production date code.

Risk

This may compromise the control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Autocar will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on march 19, 2010. Owners may contact autocar at 1‑765‑489‑5499.

Recall number 10V045000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar is recalling 690 my 2008-2009 acx, wx and wxll heavy duty class 8 vehicles equipped with quick release valves (qrv). There are qrv's in two areas of the vehicle. The first is in the lift axle air lines. A leak in that qrv would affect the rate at which the tag/pusher axle is lowered/lifted. The second is in the park brake air lines. A leak in that qrv would release pressure on the park brake springs; if the lead is large enough, the pressure will drop and set the brakes on the rear axle.

Risk

Drivers would not be aware of brake system failure and braking capability would not be possible, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Autocar will notify owners and provide instructions for scheduling repair of the vehicle at an authorized autocar service facility, at no cost to the vehicle's owner. The recall began on april 9, 2009. Owners may contact autocar at 1‑765‑489‑5499.

Recall number 09V060000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar is recalling 127 my 2008-2009 acx, wx, and wxll heavy duty class 8 trucks. Insufficient torque was applied during the assembly process to the nut on the pinch bolt that secures the lower steering shaft to the steering gear box. It was found that the torque controlled tool was calibrated to a lower torque rating than specified for the application.

Risk

If the steering bolt were to loosen, the driver would experience loss of steering control increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Autocar will provide instructions to owners for scheduling repair of the vehicles. Dealers will torque the steering knuckle bolt to the correct specifications free of charge. The recall began on november 25, 2008. Owners may contact autocar at 1‑765‑489‑5499.

Recall number 08V566000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain vehicles were built with a telescoping steering shaft between the in-cab steering components and the power steering gear box, located on the vehicle's frame. The steering shaft has been determined to be too long.

Risk

The additional length in the steering shaft results in the need for increased steering effort on the part of the vehicle's driver. The driver may not be prepared for such need, which could result in an unpredictable reaction by the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Autocar will provide instructions for scheduling the repair of these vehicles at an authorized autocar service facility free of charge. The recall began on march 7, 2008. Owners may contact autocar at 1‑765‑489‑6024.

Recall number 08V024000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain trucks fail to comply with requirements of part 568, 'vehicles manufactured in two or more stages, all incomplete, intermediate and final-stage manufacturers of vehicles manufactured in two or more stages.' the gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) label, as applied, may not be accurate. The gvwr label may indicate that the vehicle's load capacity is higher than the designed weight rating.

Risk

Due to the error in gvwr labeling, it is possible that a vehicle could be overloaded without the vehicle operator's knowledge. A vehicle in an overloaded condition may be susceptible to component failure that may result in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Autocar will send a letter which describes the discrepancy in gvwr labeling, and will include a complete set of revised gvwr labels including a revised incomplete vehicle document label along with instructions for application of the labels. The recall began on december 7, 2007. Owners may contact autocar at 1‑765‑489‑5499.

Recall number 07V513000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain heavy duty class 8 trucks built with cummins ism c876 engines, the electronic control module fails to recognize inputs of the vehicle electronic control unit or from a driver actuated dash switch thereby increasing the risk of unintended (or unexpected) elevated exhaust temperatures.

Risk

While this condition does not involve a risk of fire in the vehicle itself, it could present a fire hazard in a situation where the vehicle's exhaust is in close proximity to materials or substances that can melt, burn, or explode.

Remedy

Cummins, in conjunction with autocar, will conduct the remedy campaign. Cummins will install new ECM software. Owners can contact cummins at 1‑800‑343‑7357 or autocar at 765‑489‑5499.

Recall number 07V293000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain heavy duty class 8 vehicles equipped with bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valves, the internal rubber check valve may leak causing a delay in the application of the spring brakes to park the vehicle after the operator pulls the dash valve button.

Risk

This could delay or failure in applying the parking brakes which could result in a vehicle roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will install a check valve repair kit for the affected sr-7 spring brake modulating valve free of charge. The recall began on september 14, 2007. Owners may contact autocar at 765‑489‑5499.

Recall number 07V290000 · Recall details

On April 1, 2020, following information received from the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) network of fleet contacts, ODI opened PE20-003 to investigate reports of vehicle roll away in certain model year (MY) 2008-2020 Autocar and Mack refuse trucks equipped with certain Bendix PP-1 push-pull pneumatic park brake control valves with a pipe-away exhaust configuration. Prior to ODI’s investigation,[KK(1] Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix), the subject component manufacturer, published two related technical service bulletins (TSBs): Bendix Push-Pull Type Control Valves Service Data SD-03-3611 Rev. 007 (2019-03) and Bendix PP-1 & PP-8 Park Control Valve Wear and Replacement Notice Technical Bulletin TCH-003-056 (2019-11-20). ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to motor vehicle manufacturers Autocar LLC (Autocar) and Volvo Trucks North America/Mack Trucks, Inc. (Volvo/Mack) and motor vehicle equipment manufacturer Bendix. IR response data from all three manufacturers was analyzed and cross-referenced to gain further understanding. To date, ODI is aware of 5 vehicle roll-away incidents related to the alleged defect condition in the subject vehicles equipped with the subject components, resulting in 4 crashes and 1 injury. On December 9, 2021, Volvo/Mack notified the agency of a safety recall (21V953) to address a safety defect in certain MY 2008-2019 TerraPro (MRU) and MY 2019-2022 TerraPro (TE) trucks originally equipped with the subject components. [KK(2] On January 1, 2023, Autocar notified the agency of a safety recall (23V023) to address a safety defect in certain MY 2008-2020 ACX (Xpeditor), MY 2012-2020 ACMD (Xpert), MY 2010-2020 ACTT (Xspotter), MY 2008-2010 WX and MY 2008-2010 WXLL trucks. Volvo/Mack and Autocar's recall remedies involve removing the vent line fitting threaded into the exhaust port of the subject PP-1 valve. [VD(3] Both Autocar and Mack have stopped equipping new refuse trucks with park control valves using the exhaust pipe-away configuration. After discussions between ODI and Bendix concerning ways to prevent new PP-1 valves from being sold and installed with a potential for the exhaust to become restricted, Bendix will take the following actions: 1) issue a letter to all original equipment (OE) customers with important safety information warning them about the safety risk of attaching plumbing to the exhaust port when the subject component is used as a park control valve; and 2) affix a warning label on all aftermarket parts warning not to install pipe-away exhaust port plumbing. In view of the recalls being conducted by Volvo/Mack and Autocar, and the actions taken by Bendix, ODI has closed this Preliminary Evaluation. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist in equipment or other model or MY vehicles that have not been recalled. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted.

PE20003