ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TUFTRAC REAR SUSPENSIONS, THE CENTER CASTING BRACKETS MAY BE OUT OF SPECIFICATION

Jul 24, 2007 — Recall Campaign #07V316000

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TUFTRAC REAR SUSPENSIONS, THE CENTER CASTING BRACKETS MAY BE OUT OF SPECIFICATION. AN OUT OF SQUARE CASTING MAY HAVE UNACCEPTABLE STRESS IN THE BRACKET WHEN IT IS INSTALLED AND MAY CAUSE IT TO CRACK IN SERVICE.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 1,200 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

07V316000

Manufacturer:	FREIGHTLINER LLC
Recall date:	July 24, 2007
NHTSA Campaign #:	07V316000
Units affected:	1,200

Description:: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TUFTRAC REAR SUSPENSIONS, THE CENTER CASTING BRACKETS MAY BE OUT OF SPECIFICATION. AN OUT OF SQUARE CASTING MAY HAVE UNACCEPTABLE STRESS IN THE BRACKET WHEN IT IS INSTALLED AND MAY CAUSE IT TO CRACK IN SERVICE.
Consequeces:: THE DRIVE AXLE MAY NOT BE HELD IN POSITION IF A CRACKED BRACKET FRACTURES COMPLETELY. THIS WILL AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL AND MAY CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CASTINGS THAT ARE OUT OF SPECIFICATION WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
Notes:: FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-502.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:

2008 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2 106V Complaints
WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT OUR VEHICLE NEEDED $13,887.363 IN ENGINE REPAIRS DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN OF THE ORIGINAL FUEL INJECTORS. THE ORIGINAL INJECTOR PROBLEM CAUSED EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD UP AND VALVE WEAR. THIS RESULTED IN THE NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD AND THE ITEMIZED REPAIRS ON THE ATTACHED FILE "FREIGHTLINER INJ.PDF";
2008 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA Complaints
2008 CAT C15 ACERT ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. WE HAVE 3 OF THESE UNITS IN CLASS 8 TRUCKS ALL HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE EXHAUST TREATMENT SYSTEM ALL HAVE BEEN IN FOR REPAIR MANY TIMES. WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS THE ENGINE DERATES POWER CAUSING A TRAFFIC PROBLEM DUE TO SLOW MOVING VEHICLE ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, SOON AFTER IT DERATES THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AGAIN A SAFETY ISSUE WITH A STALLED CLASS 8 VEHICLE STOPPED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. *TR;
2008 STERLING A-LINE Complaints
THREE WEEKS AGO OUR COMPANY PURCHASED TWO STERLING BULLIETS FROM JENKINS DIESEL IN SPRINGFIELD MO WHEN OUR DRIVERS BROUGHT THE TRUCKS IN THEY STATED THE TRUCKS WERE HARD TO HANDLE, AS THESE WERE CAB AND CHASSIS UNITS THE DEALER SAID WHEN WE PUT THE BEDS ON THEY WOULD BE FINE. WE OUTFITTED A BED ON THE FIRST TRUCK AND MADE A TRIP (1900) MILES THESE TWO DRIVER'S WERE EXHAUSTED WHEN THEY RETURNED. THE TRUCK WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO KEEP ON THE ROAD. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND HE PICKED THE TRUCK THAT DAY, THEY HAVE NOW HAD IT FOR TEN DAYS AND THE THERE RESPONSE IS WE HAVE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENT TO THE WAY IT HANDLES BUT NO NEAR ENOUGH. THESE TRUCKS ARE BRAND NEW ON THE MARKET. THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REFUND OUR MONEY , BUT AS AN INDIVIDUAL I THINK THESE TRUCKS NEED TO BE PULLED OFF THE MARKET UNTIL THE HANDLING PROBLEM CAN BE ADDRESSED IN THE PROPER MANNER. THE DEALER REFUNDING OUR MONEY AND SAYING THAT THE IMPROVEMENT IS MINIMAL MAKE ME THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE ACCIDENTS PILING UP. THANK YOU JOHN WEISER *TR;