The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN MERITOR AXLES. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.
The risk
THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2001. 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 Argosy | 1999, 2000 |
| Freightliner Century | 1999, 2000 |
| Freightliner FLD | 1999, 2000 |
| Freightliner FLN | 1999, 2000 |
| Freightliner MT-45 | 2000 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 1999 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 1999, 2000 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1999, 2000 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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 Argosy | 1999 | 0 | 9 |
| Freightliner Argosy | 2000 | 0 | 7 |
| Freightliner Century | 1999 | 6 | 7 |
| Freightliner Century | 2000 | 15 | 6 |
| Freightliner FLD | 1999 | 1 | 8 |
| Freightliner FLD | 2000 | 1 | 8 |
| Freightliner FLN | 1999 | 0 | 12 |
| Freightliner FLN | 2000 | 0 | 6 |
| Freightliner MT-45 | 2000 | 2 | 5 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT55 | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1999 | 0 | 7 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2000 | 0 | 17 |
Other steering recalls in 2001
48 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the steering; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 01V389000 21 Dec 2001 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 01V140008 19 Dec 2001 | MOTOR COACH IND., INC. |
| 01V379000 13 Dec 2001 | EQUIPEMENT LABRIE LTEE |
| 01V353000 15 Nov 2001 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 01V343000 7 Nov 2001 | GLOBAL ELECTRIC MOTORCARS, LLC |
| 01V313000 4 Oct 2001 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 01V314000 3 Oct 2001 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 01V304000 25 Sept 2001 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001