ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A CAPACITOR IN THE POWER LINE CONTROL FILTER COULD OVERHEAT AND/OR IGNITE WHEN

Mar 20, 2002 — Recall Campaign #02V087000

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A CAPACITOR IN THE POWER LINE CONTROL (PLC) FILTER COULD OVERHEAT AND/OR IGNITE WHEN SUBJECTED TO REVERSE POLARITY ELECTRICAL SPIKES.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 30,000 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

02V087000

Manufacturer:	FREIGHTLINER LLC
Recall date:	March 20, 2002
NHTSA Campaign #:	02V087000
Units affected:	30,000

Description:: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A CAPACITOR IN THE POWER LINE CONTROL (PLC) FILTER COULD OVERHEAT AND/OR IGNITE WHEN SUBJECTED TO REVERSE POLARITY ELECTRICAL SPIKES.
Consequeces:: THIS COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE PLC FILTER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL DISCONNECT AND SECURE THE PLC FILTER GROUND WIRE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 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.
Notes:: ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Affects the following:

2001 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CLASS Complaints
THE LF CORNER OF THE CAB IS OUT OF SQUARE ABOUT 3 INCHES. THE ALIGNMENT SHOP SAID THE FRAME IS STRAIGHT AND THE PROBLEM IS IN THE LEAF SPRINGS, WHICH ARE WORN OUT. THEY BLOCKED THE SPRING 1", AND WHILE THE CAB NOW SITS SQUARE (YES, THEY ALIGNED THE FRONT END TOO, OF COURSE), THE PROBLEM IS THE TRUCK FEELS FUNNY TO DRIVE. IT SEEMS TO GIVE A LITTLE WIGGLE/SHIMMY OVER EXPANSION CRACKS, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT DID PREVIOUSLY. MEANWHILE, WE HAVE AN AUGUST 2010 INVOICE (BASICALLY 2 YEARS AGO) WHERE THE TRUCK WENT IN FOR REPAIR WITH A CLICKING NOISE IN THE FRONT AND FREIGHTLINER OF ORLANDO BILLED FOR REPLACING BOTH FRONT LEAF SPRINGS, SHACKLES, ETC. THE THING IS, THE INVOICES ALSO RECORD THE MILEAGE AND THAT WAS ONLY 2000 MILES AGO BECAUSE THE TRUCK SAT THE LAST FEW YEARS (AS BUSINESS WENT INTO THE TOILET). SO I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THEM AND THEY LOOKED UP THE RECORD AND THEN BEGAN A SONG AND DANCE ABOUT HOW IF IT HAD BEEN REPORTED INSIDE A YEAR", YADA, YADA. I WONDERED OUT LOUD IF PERHAPS THE WRONG SPRINGS HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE TRUCK (CHATTING WITH THE SHOP FOREMAN) THINKING THEY MIGHT INVESTIGATE AND RECONSIDER. THEN THE SONG AND DANCE BECAME ABOUT HOW THEY WERE SLAMMED WITH WORK RIGHT NOW AND MAYBE I COULD COME BACK NEXT WEEK SO IT BEING TWO DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING, I AGREED TO RETURN NEXT WEEK. MEANWHILE, I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE PROPER FRONT LEAF SPRINGS FOR THE TRUCK, WHICH IS A 2001 CENTURY S/T EXPEDITER. THE WHEELBASE (I MEASURED IT) IS ABOUT 298 INCHES, WHICH I SUSPECT IS RATHER LONGER THAN A CONVENTIONAL DUAL DRIVE-AXLE TRUCK WITH 5TH WHEEL. THE PART NUMBER VISIBLE ON BOTH FRONT LEAF SPRINGS IS A16-15657-000. COULD THERE BE A BATCH OF BAD SPRINGS? ALSO, I FIGURE JOSAM IN ORLANDO (THE FRAME ALIGNMENT SPECIALISTS WHO BLOCKED THE TRUCK 1") WOULDN'T HAVE DONE SO IF THIS WERE A SAFETY CONCERN, RIGHT? *TR;
2001 FREIGHTLINER FLD120 Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FREIGHTLINER FLD120. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND SHIFTING INTO HIGH GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND WOULD PERFORM SLUGGISHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HIGH RANGE PERFORMING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.;
2001 WESTERN STAR 4900 Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 WESTERN STAR 4900 TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE SECOND VEHICLE SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE LIMITED AND THE SPECIFICS ON WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.;