CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUSES AND TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 23

Jul 03, 2007 — Recall Campaign #07V289000

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.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 25,643 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

07V289000

Manufacturer:	FREIGHTLINER LLC
Recall date:	July 03, 2007
NHTSA Campaign #:	07V289000
Units affected:	25,643

Description:: 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.
Consequeces:: COLUMNS WITH TWO WELDS MISSING MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE AND ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO PROGRESSIVELY BE MOVED OUT OF ITS NORMAL POSITION WHICH MAY CAUSE THE STEERING TO RESPOND DIFFERENTLY THAN EXPECTED. IF THIS CONDITION IS IGNORED, A CRASH MAY OCCUR.
Corrective action:: 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.
Notes:: FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-503.CUSTOMERS MAY 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:

2006 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY ST Complaints
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY ST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE S-CAM WAS FROZEN. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FAILURES TO DATE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,763.;
2006 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL COLUMBIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH IN ICY CONDITIONS, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH SLACK AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO REACH THE TRAILER BRAKE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL AND ROLLOVER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED 3 BROKEN RIBS AND A CRACKED SHOULDER BLADE. THE TRUCK WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,560. UPDATED 6/10/14*CN;
2006 FREIGHTLINER CORONADO Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FREIGHTLINER CORONADO. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, THE LIGHTS SHORTED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS CONNECTORS SHORTED OUT AND WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE HARNESS WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN;
2006 THOMAS BUILT BUSES FS-65 Complaints
UPPER STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLT NOT TIGHTENED/INSTALLED RESULTING IN JOINT SEPARATING FROM MAIN STEERING SHAFT AND TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.NEW PINCH BOLT INSTALLED AND TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SUPPLIED TORQUE VALUES. SUPERFICIAL DAMGE TO SCHOOL BUS BODY REPAIRED WITH REPLACEMENT PARTS.;
2006 THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER C2 Complaints
2006 THOMAS/FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT WHILE PARKED. INVESTIGATION FOUND FIRE ORIGIN FROM FLOOR MOUNTED BATTERY CABLES TO THE LEFT OF DRIVER'S SEAT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO NINE SIMILAR BUSES IN THE FLEET FOUND HEAVY CORROSION AT THE BATTERY CABLE ISOLATORS IS OCCURRING WHICH CAN RESULT IN SHORTING AND FIRE. *TR;