The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEMI-TRAILERS. THESE SEMI-TRAILERS ARE EQUIPPED WITH SUSPENSION BOGIES THAT CAN SLIDE FORWARD AND AFT TO CHANGE THE AXLE POSITIONS. THE BOGIES SLIDE ALONG A PAIR OF BODY RAILS THAT ARE WELDED DIRECTLY TO THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF THE I-BEAM CROSSMEMBERS THAT MAKE UP THE FLOOR SUPPORT STRUCTURE. THE FRONT STOP PIPES WERE INADVERTENTLY WELDED TO THE BODY RAILS SEVERAL INCHES BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE CROSSMEMBERS.
The risk
CYCLIC TENSION LOADING WILL RESULT IN THE OUTSIDE GUSSET WELD CRACKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL CUT AWAY THE VERTICAL CONNECTION OF THE GUSSET TO THE RAILS ELIMINATING THE GUSSET CRACKING IN THE AREA WHERE THE STOP PIPE IS SOLIDLY WELDED INTO THE BODY RAILS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 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 WABASH AT 1-765-771-5300.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
Components: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1988 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1989 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1990 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1991 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1992 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1993 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1994 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Wabash Roadrailer | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
Other structure recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the structure; WABASH NATIONAL CORP. filed 7 campaigns in all.
| 02V292000 8 Nov 2002 | DIAMOND COACH CORPORATION |
| 02V273000 4 Oct 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V247000 13 Sept 2002 | AIRSTREAM, INC. |
| 02V237000 9 Sept 2002 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
| 02V200000 7 Aug 2002 | IC CORPORATION |
| 02V173000 12 Jul 2002 | IC CORPORATION |
| 02V167000 25 Jun 2002 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V116000 17 Apr 2002 | SUPREME CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002