2007 Sterling L-Line problems

What is wrong

Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2004 through 2008 heavy trucks manufactured from july 11, 2003, through september 28, 2007, equipped with epa04 model mbe4000 engines built with plastic low pressure fuel lines and fuel filters mounted near the center of the engine on the left-hand side. The plastic low pressure fuel line between engine mounted fuel filter and engine block may develop a substantial diesel fuel leak.

Risk

This could create a road hazard increasing the risk of a crash. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Remedy

Daimler trucks will notify owners and the remedy will be performed by detroit diesel corporation authorized repair facilities. Vehicles will be inspected and the plastic low pressure fuel line will be replaced with a steel low pressure fuel line. This service will be performed free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on october 28, 2011. The safety recall began on february 21, 2012. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 11V478000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Daimler trucks is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 sterling l-line vehicles configured with car hauler bodies and chassis, and equipped with epa04 mbe4000 engines with a fuel filter mounted at the rear of the engine, manufactured from september 13, 2004, through october 10, 2007. The lower low pressure fuel lines between the primary fuel pump and the engine mounted fuel filter, and the upper low pressure fuel line between the engine mounted fuel filter and the engine block may develop a substantial diesel fuel leak from cracking, or from abrasion due to contact with other components.

Risk

Fuel leak onto the roadway could cause a slippery road surface that could result in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the upper and lower low pressure fuel lines with a more robust fuel lines. This service will be performed free of charge. Dtna will notify owners of the recall during april 2011. The safety recall began on november 1, 2011. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 11V136000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Daimler trucks is recalling model year 2004-2010 trucks equipped with caterpillar c15 engine. The variable valve actuation oil line may rub against the p-clips retaining the oil line, causing an oil leak.

Risk

An oil leak may result in a fire.

Remedy

Daimler trucks is working with caterpillar to remedy these vehicles. Please see caterpillar's defect report 09e-020. Caterpillar will inspect and repair the necessary components free of charge. The recall began on may 5, 2009. Owners may contact caterpillar toll-free at 1‑800‑447‑4986 or daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 09V366000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Daimler trucks is recalling 62,000 my 2005-2007 freightliner business class, century class, columbia, coronado, fld, classic, sterling a-line, l-line, and western star 4900 trucks. A fractured fuel line could leak diesel fuel.

Risk

If a leak continues undetected under certain conditions, fuel may ignite at a hot engine surface and/or fuel may be spilled on the road surface.

Remedy

High pressure fuel lines and transfer tubes will be inspected and replaced free of charged. The recall began on july 9, 2008. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 08V113000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain truck-tractors equipped with holland simplex se or se ii fifth wheels, the latch lever pivot bolt assembly may have been over-tightened which could distort the pivot bolt spacer sleeve. Corrosion or contaminates in the pivot may cause it to bind and prevent the fifth wheel jaw from latching securely around the trailer king pin.

Risk

There is a possibility that the fifth wheel may fail to latch without the driver's knowledge. When the occurs, the driver could drive away and the trailer could become disengaged increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the pivot bolt and sleeve with a hex head shoulder bolt and washer. The recall began on january 3, 2008. Owners may contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 07V530000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain trucks built with axilok rear wheel spindle nuts, the nuts may have been improperly installed, with one or both locking clip tabs not properly engaged or damaged.

Risk

This may reduce the nut's ability to resist rotation, potentially allowing the nut to back off and the dual wheel set to separate from the vehicle, resulting in a crash without prior warning.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the axilok nuts for locking clip engagement or damage. They will be adjusted or replaced free of charge. The recall began on august 10, 2007. Owners may contact freightliner at 800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 07V333000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Freightliner is recalling certain school bus chassis, heavy trucks, van chassis, rv motorhome chassis manufactured from january 5 to may 17, 2007, equipped with axle alliance company (aac) front axles. During the front axle assembly, the fasteners that attach the steering arm or tie rod arms to the spindle may be over or under tightened.

Risk

Incorrectly tightened steering arm fasteners may fatigue and fracture which could cause a crash without warning.

Remedy

Thomas built will notify owners, inspect the fasteners, and replace the steering arm if necessary. The recall began on december 21, 2007. Owners can contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 07V306000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain freightliner school bus chassis, heavy trucks, and thomas built school buses manufactured between july 2002 and july 3, 2007, equipped with bendix sr-7 spring brake control valves. The parker scv brass 90 degree single check valves (scv) which attach to the supply port of a bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valve can break apart. Pieces of the parker scv can become lodged inside the sr-7 spring brake modulating valve, potentially causing either leakage out of the sr-7 valve or preventing air from properly exhausting from the sr-7 valve. Also, due to a manufacturing defect in the internal rubber check valve inside the sr-7 spring brake modulating valves, the valves can become deformed and not seat properly.

Risk

These conditions could either result in leakage and cause a delay in the application of the spring brake without warning or possibly lead to unintended vehicle rollaway or brake drag which could result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or death.

Remedy

Freightliner will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on january 11, 2008 to freightliner, sterling, and freightliner custom chassis owners; to thomas built bus owners on february 1, 2008. Owners can contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 07V302000 · Recall details

ODI opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-007) based on one fleet report alleging it had experienced multiple wheel-end fires involving the subject vehicles.The fleet believed the fires were due to a power spring fracturing and puncturing a brake chamber diaphragm resulting in a loss of compressed air to the brakes.The loss of air was believed to cause the brakes to drag and overheat.ODI upgraded PE11-007 to this engineering analysis to further evaluate the cause of the wheel fires and assess the scope, frequency, and safety consequences of the alleged defect.After a comprehensive review of the data related to brake chamber failures or replacements on the subject vehicles, ODI did not identify the existence of a safety related defect trend.Of the two vehicle fires initially reported, only one was subjected to a fire investigation.The fire investigator in that case could not identify the component responsible for the vehicle fire.Driver statements reviewed from one fleet which experienced two brake overheating events indicated that the vehicles had not been operating at normal air system pressure levels prior to the events.In addition, the failed or replaced chambers had been in service on average nearly 50 months.ODI reviewed 477 warranty claims and fleet reports of brake chamber failure or replacement.From the data review, three (3) brake overheating incidents involving a subject size 24/30 failed brake chamber were identified.In reviewing the time in service for the overheating incidents, it was found that vehicles had an average of 50 months in service.This time in service represents a typical service life wear out.The injuries reported in the opening resume for this investigation are no longer being considered as having resulted from the alleged defect in the subject brake chambers.In the case of the smoke inhalation originally reported, the fire was not determined to have been caused by a failed brake chamber.In the case of the injuries that resulted while replacing a subject brake chamber, it was found that these chambers have a limited service life and are subject to wear out.As a result, brake chambers are replaced frequently and standard safety precautions should be followed during this maintenance procedure that would prevent any chamber being replaced from experiencing an uncontrolled release of the compressed spring.DTNA has informed the federal safety agency that it will take the following action to further reduce the likelihood of subject component failures.DTNA will offer owners of subject vehicles, equipped with the original size 211/212 chambers, a free replacement of the chambers.The chambers will be replaced with the more robust 003/004 sealed chambers.In light of the low rate of wheel end fires resulting from a premature failure of the power spring in the subject vehicles, and DTNA's actions to reduce the likelihood of a failed brake chamber, 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.For additional information, see the attached closing report.

EA11011

ODI opened this preliminary evaluation based on a fleet report that it had experienced multiple wheel-end fires.The fleet believed this was due to the power spring fracturing and subsequently puncturing the diaphragm resulting in an air loss causing the brakes to drag.A vehicle driver suffered smoke inhalation during one of the fires suspected to have been caused by the alleged defect.Another injury was sustained by a mechanic when he attempted to remove the brake chamber with a broken power spring.The brake chamber sprung from its mounting bracket and struck the mechanic in the face, causing multiple lacerations.Brake chambers have a limited life span and are subject to wear out.However, the failures identified by the fleet are much earlier than expected and may not exhibit discernible failure symptoms.ODI initiated testing at the Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) to determine the cause of the spring failure and to better understand any warning signs that may be present.VRTC's testing is ongoing as is Haldex's inspection of failed chambers returned from the fleet.This PE has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA11-011) to further evaluate the cause of the fires and assess the scope, frequency, and safety consequences of the alleged defect.

PE11007

ODI gathered information from four auto hauler fleets during its investigation.At least five of the fleets' vehicles were damaged or completely destroyed by a fire caused by a leak in low pressure fuel line.The fleets reported numerous other failures that spilled large quantities of diesel fuel on roadways and disabled tractor trailers.Daimler Trucks North America submitteda recall notice on 24 February 2011.Daimler's announcement of a safety recall on this matter addresses ODI's concerns.The 573 letter was received prior to the due date of the IR response, therefore Daimler has been relieved from having to submit an IR response.Daimler will replace the upper and lower low pressure fuel lines with a more robust line.The exact remedy and replacement parts are not yet finalized.Daimler will be submitting a supplemental report when the information is available.ODI will closely monitor the remedy to ensure it is adequate.The subject vehicles have been recalled, therefore this investigation is closed.

PE11002

On november 19, 2007, freightliner filed defect report 07v‑530 which outlines a safety recall program to notify the affected owners and correct the affected vehicles.

PE07047