2012 Autocar Xpert 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 Industries, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Xpert trucks manufactured November 30, 2011, to November 5, 2014 and having a 164-inch wheelbase and a sweeper body which is mounted with a gap between the cab and the body (where optional equipment could be installed). When being driven at speeds above 25mph, the affected vehicles may have an unexpected bounce.

Risk

The unexpected bounce may cause the operator to lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The remedy for this recall is still under development. An interim notice was mailed to owners in August 2014. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Autocar customer service at 1‑765‑489‑5499. Autocar's number for this recall is M-1408.

Recall number 14V397000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar Industries, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Xpert vehicles manufactured July 11, 2011, through March 5, 2014. During manufacturing, the floor mat may have been captured between the seat brackets and the cab sheet metal at all four connection points. This could cause the torque on the bolts to relax to below the required torque, allowing them to loosen. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

Risk

Loose bolts may allow the seat to move in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Remedy

Autocar will notify owners, and dealers will correct the seat mounting free of charge. The recall is expected to began in June 2014. Owners may contact Autocar's customer service at 1‑765‑489‑5499. Autocar's number for this recall is M-1405.

Recall number 14V198000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar Industries, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Xpert vehicles manufactured July 11, 2011, through March 5, 2014. The bolts securing the brake valve to the cab may be below the required torque which could cause a failure in the connection of the airlines and the brake valve. Thus, the vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk

Low bolt torque may result in a loss of brake line air pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Autocar will notify owners, and dealers will correct the brake valve mounting, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Autocar's customer service at 1‑765‑489‑5499. Autocar's number for this recall is M-1406.

Recall number 14V199000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar Industries, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Xpert vehicles manufactured July 11, 2011, through March 5, 2014. The bolts that secure the steering column mounting bracket could be below the required torque and possibly cause the steering column to come loose.

Risk

A loose steering column may make it difficult to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Autocar will notify owners, and dealers will correct the steering column mounting, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Autocar's customer service at 1‑765‑489‑5499. Autocar's number for this recall is M-1407.

Recall number 14V200000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar Industries, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Xpert vehicles manufactured July 11, 2011, through March 5, 2014. The bolts used to anchor the seat belts may be insufficiently tight to withstand the forces experienced in certain crashes. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

Risk

If the seat belt does not properly restrain the seat occupant, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy

Autocar will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the seat belt mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall is began in June 2014. Owners may contact Autocar at 1‑765‑489‑5499. Autocar's number for this recall is M-1401.

Recall number 14V133000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar Industries, LLC is recalling certain model year 2012 Xpert vehicles manufactured October 17, 2011, through September 17, 2012; and with serial numbers in the range 213522 through 215336. The seat belt anchorages fail to sustain the 3000 pound forces for the specified length of time. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Risk

In the event of a crash, an insufficient seat belt anchorage may prevent the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant. This increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Remedy

Autocar will notify owners, and dealers will repair the seat belts, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2013. Owners may contact Autocar at 1‑765‑489‑5499.

Recall number 13V006000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Autocar Industries, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2012 Xpert medium-duty class 7 vehicles, manufactured from October 17, 2011, through June 18, 2012, equipped with both left hand and right hand driving positions. The negative cable ground stud and/or wiring harness on each vehicle may interfere with the right-hand drivers side brake pedal. The interference may prevent the driver from being able to fully depress the brake pedal, resulting in reduced braking capability.

Risk

A reduction or complete loss of braking capability can lead to increased stopping distances and/or the increased risk of a crash.

Remedy

All of the affected vehicles were corrected by September 28, 2012. Owners may contact Autocar Industries, Inc., at 1‑765‑489‑5499.

Recall number 12V448000 · 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

This investigation was opened based on a fleet complaint alleging delayed throttle response which could potentially lead to extended stopping distances and/or increase the risk of a crash.Autocar responded to ODI's Information Request (IR) letter and provided test data including its FMVSS 124 validation data.ODI reviewed Autocar's testing procedures and results with the federal safety agency's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance and Office of Rule Making.The test procedure was acceptable as were the results.In an effort to further quantify the safety risk, ODI surveyed nine fleets operating the same subject vehicles.Of the eight reporting fleets, only one expressed concerns similar to the fleet submitting the VOQ.Of all the fleets contacted, none had experienced a crash where the throttle delay was a contributing factor.Autocar provided a modified direct wire throttle to the initial fleet as a customer satisfaction campaign.This configuration resulted in an improved throttle response.In light of the low rate of delayed throttle response on the subject vehicles and Autocar's actions to improve the throttle response on the complaint vehicles, further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaint cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference using the following (ODI) number: 10471829

PE13011