2008 Autocar ACX: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2008-05-28 (May 28, 2008)

AUTOCAR IS RECALLING 7 MY 2008 ACX CHASSIS ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE SOLD TO GROVE U.S. LLC. GROVE CONVERTS THESE CHASSIS INTO CRANES. THE TELESCOPIC STEERING SHAFT BETWEEN THE IN-CAB TILT STEER GEARBOX COMPONENTS AND THE FLOOR-MOUNTED STEERING GEARBOX IS TOO LONG, AND ONE OF THE PINCH BOLTS ON THE SHAFT MAY NOT BE SECURED PROPERLY.

Consequence: INSUFFICIENT TORQUE ON THE FASTENER THAT CLAMPS THE ASSEMBLIES TOGETHER COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: AUTOCAR IS WORKING WITH GROVE TO HAVE THE CHASSIS INSPECTED AND WILL REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-6001.

Reported: 2008-07-16 (July 16, 2008)

AUTOCAR IS RECALLING 37 MY 2008 ACX CHASSIS SUPPLIED TO GROVE U.S. FOR CONVERSION INTO CRANES. THE SEAT BELT TETHER BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT FLOOR ANCHOR POINT AND THE SUSPENSION SEAT BELT ANCHOR POINT WAS NOT INSTALLED.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE IMPACT, FAILURE TO INSTALL THE TETHER STRAP MAY CAUSE THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT TO DEFORM AND SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING LOCATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FATAL INJURY.

Remedy: AUTOCAR IS WORKING WITH GROVE TO HAVE THESE CHASSIS INSPECTED AND TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-6001.

Reported: 2008-10-28 (October 28, 2008)

AUTOCAR IS RECALLING 127 MY 2008-2009 ACX, WX, AND WXLL HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS. INSUFFICIENT TORQUE WAS APPLIED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS TO THE NUT ON THE PINCH BOLT THAT SECURES THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TORQUE CONTROLLED TOOL WAS CALIBRATED TO A LOWER TORQUE RATING THAN SPECIFIED FOR THE APPLICATION.

Consequence: IF THE STEERING BOLT WERE TO LOOSEN, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: AUTOCAR WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FOR SCHEDULING REPAIR OF THE VEHICLES. DEALERS WILL TORQUE THE STEERING KNUCKLE BOLT TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 25, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-5499.

Reported: 2008-11-24 (November 24, 2008)

AUTOCAR IS RECALLING 103 MY 2008-2009 ACX HEAVY-DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES WITH RIGHT-HAND DRIVE. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, 'AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS.' THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS TIMING SPECIFICATIONS ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARD.

Consequence: THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES PERFORMANCE AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS, INCLUDING AIR-OVER-HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS, TO ENSURE SAFE BRAKING PERFORMANCE UNDER NORMAL AND EMERGENCY CONDITIONS.

Remedy: AUTOCAR WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-5499.

Reported: 2009-02-19 (February 19, 2009)

AUTOCAR IS RECALLING 690 MY 2008-2009 ACX, WX AND WXLL HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH QUICK RELEASE VALVES (QRV). THERE ARE QRV'S IN TWO AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST IS IN THE LIFT AXLE AIR LINES. A LEAK IN THAT QRV WOULD AFFECT THE RATE AT WHICH THE TAG/PUSHER AXLE IS LOWERED/LIFTED. THE SECOND IS IN THE PARK BRAKE AIR LINES. A LEAK IN THAT QRV WOULD RELEASE PRESSURE ON THE PARK BRAKE SPRINGS; IF THE LEAD IS LARGE ENOUGH, THE PRESSURE WILL DROP AND SET THE BRAKES ON THE REAR AXLE.

Consequence: DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE AWARE OF BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AND BRAKING CAPABILITY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: AUTOCAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCHEDULING REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE AT AN AUTHORIZED AUTOCAR SERVICE FACILITY, AT NO COST TO THE VEHICLE'S OWNER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-5499.

Reported: 2009-04-01 (April 1, 2009)

AUTOCAR IS RECALLING 129 MY 2008-2009 ACX HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES. THE FASTENERS THAT SECURE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER CONTAINER TO THE CAB MAY CHAFE AGAINST THE BODY OF THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER MOUNTED UNDER THE SEAT. PROLONGED CHAFING MAY RESULT IN A HOLE WHICH WILL CAUSE THE EXTINGUISHER TO DISCHARGE.

Consequence: THE DISCHARGE OF THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER MAY AFFECT THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, REPAIR AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-5499.

Reported: 2010-02-18 (February 18, 2010)

AUTOCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 ACX HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET. OVER TIME, THIS FAILURE MAY CAUSE CRACKS THAT WILL RESULT IN UNDESIRABLE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTED TO THAT BRACKET.

Consequence: THIS MAY AFFECT THE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: AUTOCAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 26, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-5499.

Reported: 2010-08-04 (August 4, 2010)

AUTOCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 ACX HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 30, 2007 THROUGH AUGUST 3, 2010. WATER INTRUSION IN THE IGNITION RELAY MAY LEAD TO CORROSION, WHICH MAY SHORT-CIRCUIT THE RELAY CAUSING THE PART TO FAIL.

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE RELAY COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING OR FAIL TO START INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WILL BE MAILED WHICH WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCHEDULING REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE AT AN AUTHORIZED AUTOCAR SERVICE FACILITY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-5499.

Reported: 2013-05-08 (May 8, 2013)

Autocar, LLC is recalling certain model year 2005-2013 ACX, WX, and WXLL trucks built November 16, 2004, through September 10, 2012. On the affected vehicles, the air brake systems were built without the required air tank drain valve. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: Air tanks with valves omitted will not drain if moisture is introduced into the tank, potentially reducing air capacity in the air brake system, which could cause a reduction in brake performance and equipment durability, thus increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Autocar will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2013. Owners may contact Autocar at 1-765-489-5499. Autocar's recall campaign number is A-1302.

Reported: 2014-03-19 (March 19, 2014)

Autocar, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 ACX, WX, and WXLL vehicles manufactured July 30, 2007, through February 10, 2014, and equipped with certain Cummins Westport Model ISL G or ISX12 G engines. Condensation in the intake manifold may freeze during cold weather conditions and interfere with the proper operation of the intake manifold pressure sensor.

Consequence: The improper operation of the sensor could induce elevated exhaust temperatures or flames from the exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire or burn injury to a person near the exhaust pipe.

Remedy: Cummins Inc. and Cummins Wesport Inc. will notify owners, and authorized Cummins service facilities will upload a new ECM calibration, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2014. Owners may contact Autocar at 1-765-489-5499 or Cummins Inc. at 1-800-343-7357. Autocar's number for this recall is A-1402.