The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3406E AND C-15 ENGINES, INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND STUD MOUNTING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) TO THE ENGINE EXISTS. CHAFING CAN WEAR THROUGH THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE BATTERY CABLE AND THE STUD.
The risk
THIS CONTACT COULD PROVIDE A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND THE BATTERY CABLES WILL BE REPLACED AND/OR RE-ROUTED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 18, 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 |
|---|---|
| Western Star 4800 | 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Western Star 4900 | 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Western Star 5800 | 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Western Star 5900 | 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Western Star 6900 | 1998, 1999, 2000 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Star 4800 | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 4800 | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 4800 | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Western Star 4900 | 1998 | 2 | 2 |
| Western Star 4900 | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Western Star 5800 | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 5800 | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 5800 | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Western Star 5900 | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 5900 | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 5900 | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 6900 | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 6900 | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 6900 | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2001
35 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the electrical system; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 01V370000 13 Dec 2001 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING,INC. |
| 01V366000 4 Dec 2001 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 01V369000 20 Nov 2001 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 01V350000 15 Nov 2001 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 01V294000 17 Sept 2001 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. |
| 01V288000 10 Sept 2001 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 01V292000 10 Sept 2001 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
| 01V253000 2 Aug 2001 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001