STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING, THE BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY AT THE INNER END OF THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD MAY BE DAMAGED IN A SHARP TURN. EXCESSIVE TIE ROD ANGLES MAY LOOSEN THE TIE ROD IN THE BALL SOCKET OR DAMAGE THE THREADED TIE ROD SOCKET ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING RACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE THREADED END OF THE BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE FRONT AXLE STEERING STOPS TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE IN THE TIE ROD BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY AND STEERING COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2008, AND WILL BE MAILED IN PHASES THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
450 vehicles affected
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING, THE TIE ROD ARMS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED. THE THREADED END OF THE BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR INSTALLATION OF THE STEERING ARMS. STEERING COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED ON TRUCKS THAT HAVE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED TIE ROD ARMS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 1, 2008. OWNER MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
413 vehicles affected
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE
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.
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.
75,000 vehicles affected
STEERING:COLUMN
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.
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.
25,643 vehicles affected
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
CERTAIN 2005 THOMAS BUILT FS-65 AND C-2 SCHOOL BUSES AND 2005 FREIGHTLINER ARGOSY, COLUMBIA, CENTURY ST, AND M2 BUSINESS CLASS TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 4 AND JULY 8, 2005. THE SPINDLES IN THE REAR AXLE HOUSING WERE OVERHEATED DURING THE HEAT TREATMENT PROCESS. INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED SPINDLES COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE SPINDLE.
Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT FOR THE HEAT TREAT DATE CODE ON THE END OF THE REAR SPINDLES AND REPLACE THE AXLE HOUSING IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER
1,100 vehicles affected
WHEELS
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ACCURIDE ALUMINUM WHEELS, THE WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY PRE-STRESSED. THIS ALLOWS CRACKS TO DEVELOP OVER TIME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
3,500 vehicles affected
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY ST. ON APRIL 14, 2007, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED NAUSEA, VOMITING, HALLUCINATIONS, DIZZINESS, AND BAD HEADACHES WHILE DRIVING DUE TO EMISSIONS AND EXHAUST LEAKS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN A BREAK DOWN TECHNICIAN ARRIVED, HE STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE HOLES IN THE EXHAUST PIPE BELOW THE SLEEPER BED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD ON APRIL 17, 2007 THAT THE VALVE HAD BEEN REPLACED AND RESUMED DRIVING. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THE CONTACT WAS SENT TO A CLINIC BY FREIGHTLINER AND WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE CONTACT WENT TO HER OWN DOCTOR ON APRIL 28, 2007 AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. ON BOTH APRIL 14TH AND 17TH, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BECAUSE OF CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, # OF CYLINDERS, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN.