2007 Autocar WX: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2007-01-05 (January 5, 2007)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 XPEDITOR TRUCKS, SOME OF THE SEAT BASE MOUNTING FASTENERS THAT SECURE THE SEAT BASE TO THE CAB FLOOR BRACKET MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT LOOSE OR NOT INSTALLED AT ALL. IMPROPERLY TORQUED SEAT-MOUNTING FASTENERS MAY ALLOW MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHILE HE/SHE IS OPERATING THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: THIS MOVEMENT COULD RESULT IN A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-877-973-3486, EXT. 2572 OR GO TO WWW.AUTOCARTRUCK.COM.

Reported: 2007-04-26 (April 26, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, SOME OF THE STEERING COLUMN SUPPORT BRACKET FASTENERS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THE PROPER TIGHTNESS.

Consequence: EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 765-489-5499.

Reported: 2007-07-05 (July 5, 2007)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVES, THE INTERNAL RUBBER CHECK VALVE MAY LEAK CAUSING A DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES TO PARK THE VEHICLE AFTER THE OPERATOR PULLS THE DASH VALVE BUTTON.

Consequence: THIS COULD DELAY OR FAILURE IN APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CHECK VALVE REPAIR KIT FOR THE AFFECTED SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 765-489-5499.

Reported: 2007-11-02 (November 2, 2007)

CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF PART 568, 'VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN TWO OR MORE STAGES, ALL INCOMPLETE, INTERMEDIATE AND FINAL-STAGE MANUFACTURERS OF VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN TWO OR MORE STAGES.' THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) LABEL, AS APPLIED, MAY NOT BE ACCURATE. THE GVWR LABEL MAY INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE'S LOAD CAPACITY IS HIGHER THAN THE DESIGNED WEIGHT RATING.

Consequence: DUE TO THE ERROR IN GVWR LABELING, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A VEHICLE COULD BE OVERLOADED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR'S KNOWLEDGE. A VEHICLE IN AN OVERLOADED CONDITION MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO COMPONENT FAILURE THAT MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: AUTOCAR WILL SEND A LETTER WHICH DESCRIBES THE DISCREPANCY IN GVWR LABELING, AND WILL INCLUDE A COMPLETE SET OF REVISED GVWR LABELS INCLUDING A REVISED INCOMPLETE VEHICLE DOCUMENT LABEL ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION OF THE LABELS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-5499.

Reported: 2008-01-23 (January 23, 2008)

CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A TELESCOPING STEERING SHAFT BETWEEN THE IN-CAB STEERING COMPONENTS AND THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE TOO LONG.

Consequence: THE ADDITIONAL LENGTH IN THE STEERING SHAFT RESULTS IN THE NEED FOR INCREASED STEERING EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER. THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE PREPARED FOR SUCH NEED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN UNPREDICTABLE REACTION BY THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: AUTOCAR WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCHEDULING THE REPAIR OF THESE VEHICLES AT AN AUTHORIZED AUTOCAR SERVICE FACILITY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-6024.

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

AUTOCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 WX AND WXR HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 LCOE VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE TOP FLANGE OF THE FRONT FRAME RAIL EXTENSION. OVER TIME, THE CRACK MAY PROPAGATE ACROSS THE EXTENSION BRACKET, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE EXTENSION BRACKET TO DEFORM UNDER LOAD. THESE TIRES ARE ALL ASYMMETRICAL TREAD PATTERNS WITH "OUTER" INDICATED ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL. THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL CONTAINS THE FULL TIRE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER INCLUDING THE PRODUCTION DATE CODE.

Consequence: THIS MAY COMPROMISE THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: AUTOCAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 19, 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.