The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND A DURAPARK PARK BRAKE SYSTEM MANUFACTURED BY ARVINMERITOR. AIR IS ENTERING THE HYDRAULIC REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS THROUGH AN UNKNOWN PATH AND THE REAR SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES MAY NOT BE OPERATING PROPERLY.
The risk
THIS RESULTS IN SPONGY OR SOFT FEEL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND A LOSS OF REAR BRAKING CAPABILITY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE ABS ECU AND INSPECT THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR PROPER TRAVEL. IF EXCESSIVE TRAVEL IS DETECTED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WILL BE BLED AND REAR BRAKES ADJUSTED. AS AN INTERIM MEASURE, FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ALL OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES INSPECTED TO ASSURE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS WILL INCLUDE ADJUSTING AND BLEEDING THE BRAKES. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS THEY SHOULD DO SEVERAL HARD BRAKE APPLICATIONS WHILE STOPPED. THIS WILL EXERCISE THE SELF-ADJUSTING SYSTEM AND IF THEY OBSERVE A LOW OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE IN FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 21, 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner FLN | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freightliner FLN | 1998 | 0 | 8 |
| Freightliner FLN | 1999 | 0 | 12 |
| Freightliner FLN | 2000 | 0 | 6 |
| Freightliner FLN | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1998 | 0 | 4 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1999 | 0 | 7 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2000 | 0 | 17 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2001 | 0 | 11 |
Other service brakes, hydraulic recalls in 2001
29 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the service brakes, hydraulic; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 01V382000 17 Dec 2001 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS |
| 01V375000 12 Dec 2001 | ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS GROUP |
| 01V371000 11 Dec 2001 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 01V354000 15 Nov 2001 | COUNTRY COACH INC |
| 01V326000 10 Oct 2001 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 01V254002 4 Sept 2001 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 01V268000 23 Aug 2001 | PACCAR, INCORPORATED |
| 01V263000 15 Aug 2001 | RANSOMES CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001