The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR BRAND 12" X 4" DCM DRUM PARKING BRAKE, THE BOLTS USED TO ATTACH THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO THE FLANGE YOKE ARE TOO LARGE AND CAN INTERFERE WITH THE PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY DISENGAGE.
The risk
IMPROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ATTACHING BOLTS WITH THE CORRECT SIZE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 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 Business Class | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Components: PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
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 Business Class | 1994 | 0 | 3 |
| Freightliner Business Class | 1995 | 2 | 4 |
| Freightliner Business Class | 1996 | 0 | 5 |
| Freightliner Business Class | 1997 | 2 | 6 |
| Freightliner Business Class | 1998 | 0 | 5 |
| Freightliner Business Class | 1999 | 1 | 5 |
| Freightliner Business Class | 2000 | 1 | 9 |
| Freightliner Business Class | 2001 | 0 | 6 |
| Freightliner Business Class | 2002 | 0 | 5 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1995 | 0 | 1 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1998 | 0 | 4 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1999 | 0 | 7 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2000 | 0 | 17 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2001 | 0 | 11 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2002 | 1 | 6 |
Other parking brake recalls in 2002
5 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the parking brake; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 02V269000 3 Oct 2002 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 02V260000 20 Sept 2002 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 02V068000 11 Mar 2002 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V041000 7 Feb 2002 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002