Freightliner CONVENTIONAL recalls by model year

Reported: 1977-06-14 (June 14, 1977) · Model years: 1975, 1976, 1977

THE CAB FRONT MOUNTS MAY CRACK AND LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO HOLD THE CAB FIRMLY TO ITS FRAME MOUNTS. SUCH A FAILURE COULD ALLOW THE FRONT OF THE CAB TO MOVE VERTICALLY WHEN ENCOUNTERING ROUGH ROAD SURFACES. IN EXTREME SITUATIONS, THE CAB COULD RISE TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT COULD BECOME DISENGAGED.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL REDESIGNED LEFT AND RIGHT HAND CAB SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES AND LONGER, LOWER STEERING SHAFTS, AT NO COST TO OWNER.

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: 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: 1983-09-07 (September 7, 1983) · Model years: 1982, 1983

THE PINCH BOLT INSTALLED ON THE STEERING GEAR COMPONENT IS OF A SMALLER SIZE THAN SPECIFIED.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECTLY SIZED PINCH BOLT WITH A PROPERLY SIZED ONE IF NECESSARY.

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: 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: 1986-10-20 (October 20, 1986) · Model years: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

SEAT BELTS CAN LOOSEN AS THE TRUCK IS DRIVEN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: DRIVER AND PASSENGER WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR CRASH.

Remedy: REPLACE THE NON LOCKING RETRACTOR SEAT BELTS WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR SEAT BELTS.

Reported: 1984-09-25 (September 25, 1984) · Model years: 1984

THE SLEEPER COMPARTMENT INSIDE DOOR LATCHING MECHANISMS MAY CAUSE THE DOOR TO UNLATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.

Remedy: THE OPERATING LEVER AND CONNECTING RODS WILL BE REPLACED AND A SPRING WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE CONNECTING ROD.

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: 1986-08-05 (August 5, 1986) · Model years: 1985

STEERING COLUMN MOUNTING BOLTS MAY BE ABSENT, LEAVING ONLY THE KNEE PAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN IN PLACE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, KNEE PAD ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT, ALLOWING THE STEERING COLUMN AND WHEEL TO COME LOOSE WHILE THE TRUCK IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL CLAMPS AND BOLTS, IF MISSING, OR CHECK EXISTING BOLTS FOR TIGHTNESS.

Reported: 1987-02-19 (February 19, 1987) · Model years: 1985, 1986, 1987

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP.

Consequence: SHORT CIRCUIT COULD RESULT IN TRUCKS CATCHING FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE EXISTING PICTURE FRAME TYPE BATTERY RETAINER WITH AN I FRAME RETAINER AND INSTALL CONVOLUTED TUBING OVER POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE.

Reported: 1987-09-15 (September 15, 1987) · Model years: 1985, 1986, 1987

INCORRECT SIZE AIR BRAKE ACTUATOR CHAMBERS WERE INSTALLED ON THE DRIVE AXLES.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE.

Remedy: REPLACE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE CHAMBERS WITH CORRECT SIZE CHAMBERS.

Reported: 1987-12-18 (December 18, 1987) · Model years: 1985, 1986, 1987

FASTENER THAT CONNECTS THE HARNESS BELT D RING TO THE B PILLAR MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FULL THREAD ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ANCHORAGE WELD NUT.

Consequence: SEAT BELTS COULD FAIL AND NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT THEOCCUPANT.

Remedy: REPLACE MOUNTING HARDWARE WITH HEX SHOULDER BOLT AND .55 INCH SPACER.

Reported: 1988-10-24 (October 24, 1988) · Model years: 1988

FASTENERS THAT RETAIN THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE PIVOT TUBE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED.

Consequence: BRAKE PEDALS COULD DETACH FROM THE PIVOT TUBE WHILE TRUCKIS IN OPERATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REINSTALL BRAKE PEDAL CLAMP FASTENERS WITH LOCTITE AND TORQUE PROPERLY.

Reported: 1996-11-20 (November 20, 1996) · Model years: 1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EATON DRIVE AXLES AND AXILOK SPINDLE NUTS. THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.

Consequence: THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THIS TAB IS DEFORMED, THE NUT CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.

Reported: 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002) · Model years: 2002

ON CERTAIN TRUCK-TRACTOR MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONMET SIMPLEX STATIONARY OR SLIDING FIFTH-WHEEL, THE CLINCH PINS THAT RETAIN THE FIFTH-WHEEL PIVOT PINS MAY NOT BE FULLY INSTALLED.

Consequence: THE FIFTH WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FIFTH WHEEL TO VERIFY THE CORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE CLINCH PIN AND PIVOT PIN. MISSING PINS WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 15, 2002. 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 FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.