Freightliner COE recalls by model year

Reported: 1973-03-26 (March 26, 1973) · Model years: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973

Reported: 1980-07-23 (July 23, 1980) · Model years: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

ON INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE STEERING CONTROL SHAFT AND THE INPUT SHAFT ON THE STEERING GEAR BOX MAY BE DEFECTIVE. THE YOKE ON THE SHAFT MAY LOOSEN, ALLOWING THE SPLINED SURFACES ON THE YOKE AND SHAFT TO WEAR. CONTINUED OPERATION MAY RESULT IN WEAR AND EVENTUAL ROTATIONAL SLIPPAGE OF THE JOINT.

Remedy: THE YOKE WILL BE REPAIRED OR THE YOKE AND INPUT SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.

Reported: 1989-07-24 (July 24, 1989) · Model years: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET WELDS MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN STEERING LOAD CONDITIONS.

Consequence: STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED WITHPOTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF TRUCK CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET WITH A REDESIGNED BRACKET.

Reported: 1979-11-06 (November 6, 1979) · Model years: 1979

THE PARK/RUN VALVE IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY STICK IN THE PARK POSITION. AN OUT OF BALANCE DIMENSION IN THE CYLINDER RESULTED IN AN UNDERSIZED BORE WHICH MAY CAUSE THE PLUNGER TO STICK. THEREFORE, THE WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL TO START.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS FOR CONVENTIONAL MODELS. ALSO, THE CONTROL VALVES ON THE DASH WILL BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Reported: 1989-06-05 (June 5, 1989) · Model years: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987

CORROSION OF THE GRABHANDLE AT ITS MOUNTING SURFACE MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OR LOSS OF STRENGTH.

Consequence: FAILURE OF GRABHANDLE DURING USE COULD RESULT INPERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: REPLACE GRABHANDLE AND ITS FASTENER WITH IMPROVED GRABHANDLE; ALSO, INSTALL GASKET BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND AIR STARTER RESERVOIR.

Reported: 1981-12-02 (December 2, 1981) · Model years: 1980

AN AIR BRAKE HOSE FITTING BENEATH THE FLOOR OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY RUB AGAINST THE ROTATING STEERING DRIVE SHAFT, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE SHAFT TO FRACTURE. THIS CONDITION COULD EXIST IF A MECHANIC FAILED TO ORIENT THE THREADED 90 DEGREE ELBOW FITTING IN THE PROPER DIRECTION, OR IF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS POSITIONED INCORRECTLY. ALSO, AN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED BEARING PLATE WAS INSTALLED ON THE STEERING DRIVE SHAFT. THIS COULD CAUSE THE SLIP SHAFT TO BOTTOM OUT, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE STEERING YOKE CONNECTION OR TO THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE GEAR BOX.

Remedy: THE DECK BEARING PLATE WILL BE REPLACED, A SLEEVE SPACER WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING SHAFT UNDER THE FLOOR AND TWO PARTS WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING COLUMN ATTACHMENT. THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER.

Reported: 1984-12-13 (December 13, 1984) · Model years: 1980, 1981, 1982

SOME DRAG LINK PARTS CAN SEPARATE FROM THE ASSEMBLY WHICH CONNECTS STEERING GEAR PITMAN ARM TO THE FRONT AXLE STEERING ARM.

Remedy: IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE DRAG LINKS WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION, WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.

Reported: 1985-06-11 (June 11, 1985) · Model years: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985

CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE OIL FILTER MOUNTING BRACKETS NEAR THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE BRACKETS TO THE FRAME SIDE MEMBER. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF CRACKS PROGRESS TO THE POINT OF FAILURE, THE FILTER ASSEMBLY COULD FALL OUT AND POSSIBLY BE STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLES CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: BRACKETS WILL BE REPLACED WITH IMPROVED DESIGN BRACKETS.

Reported: 1983-02-23 (February 23, 1983) · Model years: 1982

THE LEFT BRAKE SLACK ADJUSTER AND THE STEERING PITMAN ARM MAY INTERFERE WITH EACH OTHER DURING A SHARP RIGHT TURN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. THE INTERFERENCE MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING LINKAGE OR THE AIR CHAMBER PUSH ROD IN THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL MODIFY PLACEMENT OF THE LEFT HAND BRAKE AIR CHAMBER AT NO COST TO OWNER. THE MODIFICATION WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INSTALLING NEW BRAKE CAMSHAFT MOUNTING BRACKETS AND BACKING PLATES ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT BRAKES.

Reported: 1988-08-16 (August 16, 1988) · Model years: 1982, 1983

THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MOTOR SPEED CONTROL RESISTORS CAN UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS OVERHEAT AND STALL.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOW AIR FLOW ACROSS THE RESISTORNETWORK AND HIGH AMPERAGE, ALLOWING THE AIR DUCT TO REACH ELEVATED TEMPERATURESWITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL A THERMO CUTOFF DEVICE IN THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM AND/OR REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH.

Reported: 1984-03-02 (March 2, 1984) · Model years: 1983

THE TUBES PROVIDED AS HANDHOLDS MAY CRACK OR FRACTURE WHERE THE STEPS AND ATTACHING BRACKETS ARE JOINED.

Remedy: COMPLETE STEP AND HANDHOLD SYSTEMS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.

Reported: 1986-08-26 (August 26, 1986) · Model years: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

THE HANDHOLD MOUNTING SYSTEM, WHICH CONSISTS OF A TUBULAR HANDLE HELD IN THREE PLACES BY CAST ALUMINUM BRACKETS AND ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST MUFFLER HEAT SHIELD. VIBRATION FROM THIS SYSTEM CAUSES THE HANDHOLD PARTS TO WEAR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE PARTS WEAR THIN THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT THE HANDHOLD MIGHT GIVE WAY UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A DRIVER. THIS COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: REPLACE THE END BRACKETS WITH A MODIFIED DESIGN UTILIZING A RUBBER ISOLATER. ALSO, ADD A PLASTIC SLEEVE TO THE CENTER BRACKET FOR ISOLATION.

Reported: 1988-10-11 (October 11, 1988) · Model years: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988

STEERING ARM MAY FAIL IF USED ON EATON EFA12F4 FROM AXLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ROSS HFB70 POWER STEERING GEAR.

Consequence: A FAILED STEERING GEAR ARM COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: INSTALL A NONADJUSTABLE 1500 PSI POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE TO LIMIT STEERING ARM FORCES. REPLACE STEERING ARM WITH A DESIGN CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING HIGHER FORCES. ADJUST MAXIMUM POPPET VALVE SETTINGS TO 500 PSI AND ADJUST AXLE STOPS.

Reported: 1985-06-21 (June 21, 1985) · Model years: 1985

CHANGE IN VENDOR'S PRODUCTION TOOLING RESULTED IN A FIT BETWEEN THE RADIATOR CAP AND FILLER NECK WHICH MAY BE TOO LOOSE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE LOOSE FIT COULD ALLOW THE CAP TO BE REMOVED BEFORE INTERNAL PRESSURE IS COMPLETELY RELEASED. HOT RADIATOR COOLANT MIGHT THEN BE SPRAYED ON THE PERSON OPENING THE CAP OR OTHERS IN THE VICINITY.

Remedy: THE DEFECTIVE FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THIS MALFUNCTION.

Reported: 1987-06-15 (June 15, 1987) · Model years: 1986, 1987

BUCKLING OF THE TILT CYLINDERS MAY OCCUR WHILE LOWERING THE VEHICLES CAB DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF THE CAB TILT SYSTEM.

Consequence: CAB MAY DROP TO ITS LOWERED POSITION.

Remedy: REPLACE THE 1 1/2 IN. DIAMETER TILT CYLINDERS ON ALL 104 IN. CABS WITH 2 IN. DIAMETER CYLINDERS.