NHTSA Campaign 02V332000

SUSPENSION:REAR

Issued by NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES · Reported Dec 12, 2002 · 1,474 vehicles affected

What's wrong

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL OR LIQUID NATURAL GAS (LNG) FUEL SYSTEMS ONLY, IN THE AREA OF THE REAR AXLE LOWER RADIUS ROD ATTACHMENT TO THE SUSPENSION SUPPORT (OR "C" FRAME), A WELDING PROBLEM EXISTS.

Consequence

IF A CRACK WERE TO DEVELOP AND PROPAGATE AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BUSHING, THE RADIUS ROD ATTACHMENT COULD BECOME LOOSE AND ALLOW MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE LOWER RADIUS ROD AND THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, THE REAR AXLE POSITION COULD SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR IN TURNS, AND COULD AFFECT THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

OWNERS ARE BEING REQUESTED TO INSPECT THEIR BUSES FOR CRACKS AND TO REMOVE THE BUSES FROM SERVICE THAT HAVE CRACKS EXCEEDING SPECIFIC CRITERIA. NABI WILL ARRANGE TO REPAIR ALL THE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON DECEMBER 31, 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 NABI AT 1-888-424-5844, EXTENSION 7900.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
NABI 35LFW 1998 1,474
NABI 35LFW 1999 1,474
NABI 35LFW 2000 1,474
NABI 35LFW 2001 1,474
NABI 35LFW 2002 1,474
NABI 40LFW 1998 1,474
NABI 40LFW 1999 1,474
NABI 40LFW 2000 1,474
NABI 40LFW 2001 1,474
NABI 40LFW 2002 1,474

Source: NHTSA Campaign 02V332000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.