2014 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 2014-2016 Xpert and XSpotter vehicles manufactured September 24, 2013, to April 22, 2015, and equipped with certain Cummins Westport ISL G engines. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.

Risk

If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there could be is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy

Cummins will notify owners on behalf of Autocar, and Cummins service centers will administer the repairs which include securing the ends of the 90-degree elbow and reprogramming the electronic control module (ECM) with software that can adjust the engine output under misfire conditions to limit crankcase pressures. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2015. Owners may contact Autocar customer service at 1‑765‑589‑5499 or Cummins Inc. at 1‑800‑343‑7357. Autocar's number for this recall is MDTT-01.

Recall number 15V281000 · 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 2014 Xpert trucks manufactured November 7, 2013, through January 13, 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 M-1404.

Recall number 14V130000 · 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

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