VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND EATON AUTOSHIFT TRANSMISSIONS

Jul 09, 1999 — Recall Campaign #99V181001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND EATON AUTOSHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. THE ENGINES CAN STALL BECAUSE OF SOFTWARE PROBLEMS.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 272 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

99V181001

Manufacturer:	PACCAR Incorporated
Recall date:	July 09, 1999
NHTSA Campaign #:	99V181001
Units affected:	272

Description:: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND EATON AUTOSHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. THE ENGINES CAN STALL BECAUSE OF SOFTWARE PROBLEMS.
Consequeces:: INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN OCCUR.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THESE ENGINES WITH SOFTWARE CHANGES. CATERPILLAR IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THIS RECALL.
Notes:: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 1999.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 KENWORTH AT 1-206-828-5418 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4000.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:

1999 KENWORTH T2000 Complaints
1999 KENWORTH CONVENTIONAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING HE NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL COMING FROM THE TRUCK CONSUMER PULLED OVER THE TRUCK HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. *MC (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TR;
1999 KENWORTH T600 Complaints
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE, THERE IS A NOISE BEING EMITTED FROM REAR DUE TO GEARS IN REAR HAVE BECOME STRIPPED. MANUFACTURER HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS DEFECT WAS DUE TO "SHOCK LOAD" (DRIVER ABUSE). *AK *SLC;
1999 KENWORTH T800 Complaints
RECENTLY ONE OF MY TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH A CATEPILLAR ENGINE HAD A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED MY DRIVER TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP ALONG A FREEWAY IN COLORADO. I WAS INFORMED THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. BY MISTAKE A NOTICE SENT BY CATERPILLAR NAMED "CONFIDENTIAL" WAS LEFT ON A COUNTER WHICH I HAPPENED TO PICK UP AND READ. IT STATED TRUCKS WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE STARTING WITH A CERTAIN SERIAL NO. AND ENDING WITH ANOTHER SERIAL NO. HAD THIS TYPE OF ENGINE FAILURE, BROKEN CRANKSHAFT, WOULD BE HANDLED ACCORDING TO THE MILEAGE ON THAT TRUCK. IT ALSO STATED NO REPAIR WAS TO BE ADMINISTERED UNTIL THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED. THE NUMBER OF ENGINES INVOLVED ACCORDING TO THE SERIAL NO. WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. AFTER READING THEIR BULLETIN IT WAS APPARENT TO ME CATERPILLAR KNEW THEY HAD A FLAW IN THESE CRANK SHAFTS AND INSTEAD OF RECALLING AND REPLACING THESE CRANKSHAFTS THEY WOULD PREFER TO TAKE A CHANCE AND REPLACE, ACCORDING TO THE MILEAGE AT FAILURE, THE FAILED COMPONET. AT ISSUE HERE IS THE TIME AND PLACE THIS ENGINE FAILURE TAKES PLACE. IN OUR SITUATION IT WAS ON A MAJOR FREEWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. LUCKILY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS FAILURE OCCURED ON A MAJOR INCLINE OR DOWNHILL GRADE ON A TWO LANE ROAD. THE RESULT MAY HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. HOW MANY OTHER OF THESE ENGINES HAVE FAILED AND WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES ? WHERE DID IT HAPPEN AND WAS THERE AN ISSUE WITH TRAFFIC SAFETY, I PERSONNALLY DON'T KNOW. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A CAR BREAKNG DOWN HERE BUT AN 80,000 POUND SEMI. IF A MANUFACTURER KNOWS A MAJOR COMPONET OF AN ENGINE USED IN SUCH A SAFETY SENSITIVE REGIMENT, TRANSPORTATION ON OUR HIGHWAYS, WITH TRAFFIC BEING HEAVIER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN, IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SHOULDN'T THEY TAKE ACTION TO REMEDY THAT PROBLEM BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS OR IS IT WORTH THE GAMBLE ? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. L.J. LARKIN PRES. TRANSTECH N.W. INC.*AK;
1999 KENWORTH W900L Complaints
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500.;