Freightliner FLN recalls

What is wrong

Daimler trucks is recalling 28,764 my 2001 through 2008 fccc b2 and fs65 school bus chassis, fccc fb65 conventional buses, and sterling acterra, freightliner fln, and business class m2 heavy trucks, built from january 26, 2000, through march 24, 2008, manufactured with arvinmeritor or axle alliance company 6,000 through 8,000 pound front axles utilizing a four piece spindle-nut set. These axle assemblies may have been produced with a thin spindle nut which may lead to incorrect end play, cone spin, excessive heat, degradation of lubrication, wear of the spindle nut and bearing journal, oil contamination with metal shavings, and premature bearing failure.

Risk

Continued operation may lead to wheel separation and possibly a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Daimler trucks will notify owners and will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on january 8, 2009. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 08V137000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain heavy trucks, the cast output yoke on the mercedes-benz transmissions could fracture on vehicle with 1610 or 16t series drivelines.

Risk

If pieces of the yoke separate, the debris can represent a potential hzard to people outside the vheicle and to other passing vehicles.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the cast transmission output yoke with a forged part. Owner notification began on january 30, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 02V336000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain trucks equipped with caterpillar 3126e hydraulically controlled electronically actuated unit injected diesel engines with high efficiency pumps (hep8), the pump components may experience a high pressure seal failure which can result in a short period of rough running and subsequent engine stall due to a loss of injection actuation pressure.

Risk

Freightliner recall no. Fl404. Once engine stall occurs, the engine cannot be restarted, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Caterpillar is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will inspect the pump serial numbers and replace the pump if necessary. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact caterpillar at 1‑800‑447‑4986 or freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 02V318002 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with trw tie rod ends on certain meritor axles. The tie rod and drag link ball stud ends contain bearings that are below the specified case depth and/or hardness.

Risk

This can lead to premature wear with possible separation of the ball stud from the socket, increasing the risk of loss of control of the vehicle.

Remedy

Dealers will remove and replace all affected tie rods and drag links with different designed ends. Owner notification began november 8, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 01V140007 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with chalmers 1000 and 800 series suspension kits. These suspension kits may have insufficient penetration of the weld attaching the torque rod eye to the torque rod tube.

Risk

Failure of the weld could result in separation of the eye and tube, causing a lock of axle retention, which could result in loss of vehicle control.

Remedy

Dealers will replace all chalmers fixed torque rods on these vehicles. Owner notification began march 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 01V167002 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with hydraulic brakes and a durapark park brake system manufactured by arvinmeritor. Air is entering the hydraulic rear brake cylinders through an unknown path and the rear self-adjusting brakes may not be operating properly.

Risk

This results in spongy or soft feel to the brake pedal and a loss of rear braking capability.

Remedy

Dealers will remove and replace the ABS ecu and inspect the brake pedal for proper travel. If excessive travel is detected, the brake system will be bled and rear brakes adjusted. As an interim measure, freightliner will notify all owners to have their vehicles inspected to assure proper function of the brake system. This will include adjusting and bleeding the brakes. Also, owners will be instructed that on a regular basis they should do several hard brake applications while stopped. This will exercise the self-adjusting system and if they observe a low or spongy brake pedal they will be instructed to take their vehicle in for additional service. Owner notification began march 21, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 01V085001 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: trucks, school bus and motor home chassis, and transit buses equipped with tie rod assemblies manufactured by trw. The suspect tie rods contain 24-dl model ball sockets. Certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below-specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket.

Risk

If this condition occurs, the driver can lose partial control of the right front wheel, possibly resulting in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links. Owner notification began may 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712 or trw customer service at 1‑866‑280‑3287.

Recall number 01V044002 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: shuttle buses, recreational vehicles, utility vans, and heavy duty trucks equipped with meritor wabco phase 1, d-version antilock brake system (ABS), fail to comply to the requirements of fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." an internal diagnostic system in the ABS may not detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap. Such a condition could possibly occur during (1) original assembly or (2) subsequent wheel end service.

Risk

The ABS fault light will not activate and the ABS will not function at this wheel position, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will remove and replace the ABS ecu or the ecu will be reprogrammed. Owner notification began february 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 00V279001 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks, shuttle buses, transit buses and step vans equipped with allison 1000 or 2400 series transmissions. These transmissions can experience park pawl to rear cover interference due to an out of flatness condition.

Risk

This could cause non-engagement of the park pawl when the transmission shift selector is moved to the park position, resulting in unintended vehicle movement and a vehicle crash without prior warning.

Remedy

Allison transmission is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will remove the transmission from the vehicle, replace the park pawl, and reinstall the transmission in the vehicle. Owner notification is expected to begin during september 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact allison at 1‑800‑252‑5283 or freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 00V229001 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: certain tractors fail to comply with fmvss no. 121, "air brake systems." the air lines may not be routed properly to the drive axle service brake relay.

Risk

These vehicles are not in compliance with the standard.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect for correct air line routing and reroute if necessary.

Recall number 00V152001 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy trucks built with air brakes that did not have air gauges installed. This does not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 121, "air brake systems."

Risk

These vehicles are not in compliance with the standard.

Remedy

Dealers will install a new dual needle air pressure gauge.

Recall number 00V151000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty class 8 trucks equipped with fontaine fifth wheel assemblies. The fifth wheel mounting plates can crack.

Risk

Under the trailer loading, the mounting plate could eventually fail due to fatigue.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the mounting plates that are cracked.

Recall number 00V019002 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. A heat shield between an ABS (anti lock brake system) modulating valve and a muffler was omitted.

Risk

This condition could result in longer stopping distances in emergency braking situations.

Remedy

Dealers will install a heat shield between the ABS modulating valve and the muffler.

Recall number 00V013000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with haldex manifold dash valves (mdv) used in tractor and trailer parking brakes. These valves do not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 121, "air brake systems." a loss of the isolation of the two brake system circuits can result in the loss of service brakes when there is another failure of one of the two brake circuits.

Risk

The loss of service brakes can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

A replacement valve will be provided to owners with installation instructions.

Recall number 00V002001 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The outboard bearing on the steering axle hubs can fail due to water intrusion through a hubcap vent.

Risk

This condition can result in a separation of the wheel.

Remedy

Dealers will remove the hubcap and inspect for water intrusion and corrosion. The hub and bearing assembly will be replaced if there is evidence of corrosion. A non-vented hubcap will be installed.

Recall number 99V295000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: trucks with steering linkages converted to stand-up right-drive by fontaine modification company. These vehicles have a steering cross shaft that connects the right side steering column to the left side steering column, with a miter box, and u-joint at each side. The cross shaft, miter box shaft, and u-joint have keyways and the u-joint has a set screw at both connections. The keys can work loose and fall out.

Risk

This condition can result in a loss of steering on the right hand side.

Remedy

Dealers will install nuts and bolts through the universal joint ends and shafts which will create a positive lock between the steering gear boxes.

Recall number 99V224000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with caterpillar engines and eaton autoshift transmissions. The engines can stall because of software problems.

Risk

Increased steering effort can occur.

Remedy

Caterpillar is conducting the owner notification and remedy of this recall. Dealers will update these engines with software changes.

Recall number 99V181002 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: trucks equipped with tuftrac suspensions. The rear suspension axle clamps can fracture, allowing the rear axle to shift.

Risk

This condition could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will install new upper and lower axle clamps.

Recall number 99V172000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with dual steering. The steering column pinch bolts may be under-torqued or missing.

Risk

This condition could result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect for the presence of the required fasteners, install fasteners is missing, and retorque to specifications.

Recall number 99V143000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with meritor air brake automatic slack adjusters. Some of the automatic slack adjusters had insufficient torque applied to the guide pawl cap screw.

Risk

Without sufficient torque on the guide pawl cap screw, the brakes could gradually lose adjustment, increasing the vehicle stopping distance.

Remedy

Dealers will check the torque on the automatic slack adjuster guide pawl. If there is no torque, the brakes will be adjusted and the guide pawl will be tightened to 15-20 ft. Lbs.

Recall number 99V055002 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The door hinge fasteners contain a defect which could cause a failure to comply with the loading requirements of fmvss no. 206, "door locks and door retention components."

Risk

In the event of a crash, the door hinge may not perform as required by the standard.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the door hinge fasteners.

Recall number 98V280000 · Recall details