ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S

Mar 21, 2003 — Recall Campaign #03V112000

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 5,716 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

03V112000

Manufacturer:	WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.
Recall date:	March 21, 2003
NHTSA Campaign #:	03V112000
Units affected:	5,716

Description:: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
Consequeces:: SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 2003. 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:: FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-407.CUSTOMERS CAN 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 COLUMBIA Complaints
2001 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA CLASS, UNIT 1 TRAILER BECAME DISCONNECTED. UNIT 1 TRAILER STRUCK THE POWER UNIT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. UNIT 1 POWER UNIT AND TRAILER CAME TO REST IN THE RIGHT LANE. *BF UPDATED 03/21/11 *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0047-90) *JB;