2004 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner problems

What is wrong

Certain freightliner school buses and trucks manufactured from october 23, 2004, to march 21, 2006. During the steering column manufacturing process two welds may have been missing.

Risk

Columns with two welds missing may fatigue and fracture and allow the steering wheel to progressively be moved out of its normal position which may cause the steering to respond differently than expected. If this condition is ignored, a crash may occur.

Remedy

Freightliner will notify owners and inspect and repair the affected vehicle free of charge. The recall began on august 30, 2007. Owners can contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.

Recall number 07V289000 · Recall details

As a result of the odi investigation, freightliner has agreed to recall (number 07v‑289) all of the vehicles manufactured with steering columns potentially missing welds.the recall remedy will involve inspecting the recalled vehicles for missing welds and if found replace the steering column.early warning aggregate data submitted to the federal safety agency by freightliner suggested that a steering problem (ewr code 01) existed for the 2004 and 2005 century and columbia class vehicles.the count of field reports submitted for the first quarter of 2006 was higher than the average of the previous 6 quarters for the aggregate steering data.odi's further review of the ewr data foundfield reports that described steering column failures as a result of steering column welds cracking or breaking.information received from freightliner detailed failures of the steering columns on the subject vehicles.these failures were the result of missing and cracked welds on the steering column assembly.during testing of vehicles containing defective steering columns, odi determined that weld failures in the steering column create a situation where the vehicle becomes difficult to steer or may startle the driver upon failing, thus presenting a safety risk.a copy of the recall is attached.freightliner's action resolves the issues raised by this investigation and, therefore, this investigation is closed.

EA07002