ON CERTAIN TRUCK AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH I-SHAFTS SUPPLIED BY ZF HEAVY DUTY STEERING

Sep 13, 2005 — Recall Campaign #05V408000

ON CERTAIN TRUCK AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH I-SHAFTS SUPPLIED BY ZF HEAVY DUTY STEERING, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FAILURE OF THE FORK/SHAFT CONNECTION.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 37,029 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

05V408000

Manufacturer:	FREIGHTLINER LLC
Recall date:	September 13, 2005
NHTSA Campaign #:	05V408000
Units affected:	37,029

Description:: ON CERTAIN TRUCK AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH I-SHAFTS SUPPLIED BY ZF HEAVY DUTY STEERING, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FAILURE OF THE FORK/SHAFT CONNECTION.
Consequeces:: IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE COULD SUFFER A LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ATTACH A TENSION COLLAR TO THE STEERING SHAFT TO SECURE THE CONNECTION TO THE YOKE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Notes:: FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-452.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Affects the following:

2004 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY CLASS Complaints
2004 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.*BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE TRUCK HAD ENGINE TROUBLE. THE DRIVER COMPLAINED OF LEG AND SHOULDER INJURY WHEN HE JUMPED FROM THE TRUCK. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0397-91)*JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF;
2004 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA Complaints
PERSONAL FRIEND/TRUCK DRIVER WAS DRIVING 2004 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA WITH MERCEDES ENGINE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. OTHER MOTORIST SAW HIM DRIVING ERRATICALLY, AND CALLED POLICE. DASH CAMERA RECORDS HIM WEAVING IN THE ROAD AND FINALLY VEERING INTO ONCOMING LANE, CRASHING INTO CONCRETE BARRIER. IMPACT WITH THE WALL CAUSES FUEL TANK TO SEPARATE FROM CAB, CAUSING SMALL FIRE WHICH DID NOT BURN DRIVER OR CAB. DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. AUTOPSY REVEALED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH LEVEL OF CO IN BLOOD (61-65 %), BUT NO HEART ATTACK OR STROKE OR ANY OTHER NATURAL CAUSE. DEATH IS RULED ACCIDENTAL. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT MANY OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE IS APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE, AND OTHERS WILL DIE UNLESS THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTED. *TR;
2004 FREIGHTLINER FLD Complaints
AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST I WAS ASKED TO EXAMINE THE FRONT AXLE OF A LATE MODEL FREIGHTLINER TRUCK-TRACTOR THAT HAD BEEN IN A LOSS-OF-STEERING-CONTROL TYPE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE TRACTOR, THE TRAILER, THE TRAILER LOAD AND INJURY TO THE DRIVER. UPON EXAMINING THE LEFT FRONT STEERING SPINDLE I NOTICED IT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. THE PLACE WHERE THE SPINDLE CONNECTS TO THE AXLE IS EFFECTED BY AN INTERFERENCE FIT BETWEEN A SOLID CYLINDER AND A CYLINDRICAL HOLE WITH NO OTHER MEANS OF JOINING THE TWO PARTS. THE HOLE WAS CRACKED WHICH CAUSED A PARTIAL LOSS OF INTERENCE FIT WHICH ALLOWED THE SPINDLE TO WORK ITS WAY OUT OF THE HOLE. WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS LOSS OF LOAD SUPPORT BY THE WHEEL AND A LOSS OF STEERING. THERE WAS NO IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL SO THE SEPARATION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT NOT A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THIS WAS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE FRONT AXLE BUT IT IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME IF IT IS A (1) DESIGN DEFECT , (2) MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR (3) A MATERIAL DEFECT. HOWEVER, THERE IS A DEFECT AND IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSAND OF THESE TRUCK TRACTORS OPERATING RIGHT NOW WITH STEERING AXLES POTENTIALLY ABOUT TO FAIL AND WHEN THEY DO THE EFFECTS WILL BE CATASTROPHIC TO THE DRIVERS, OTHER MOTORISTS AND CARGOES. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IS TO STOP THE TRUCKS, RECALL THE TRUCKS AND REPLACE OR MODIFY THE SPINDLE-AXLE CONNECTION SO THAT THEY CAN'T SEPARATE. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A MEETING OF A NUMBER OF TRUCKING COMPANIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY GOOD RESPONSE FROM FREIGHTLINER REGARDING FIXING THE PROBLEM. FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLIC SAFETY YOU SHOULD OPEN AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE TRUCK TRACTORS AND THEIR DEFECTIVE STEERING AXLES ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS.;
2004 FREIGHTLINER XC MOTORHOME CHASSIS Complaints
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FREIGHTLINER XC MOTORHOME CHASSIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V408000 (STEERING:LINKAGES ). HE CALLED HIS LOCAL DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE DATE CODE FROM THE STEERING BOX. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 15,000 MILES, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MILEAGE SHOULD NOT IMPACT THE DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE RECALL REPAIR SHOULD BE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,500.;