The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
The risk
SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, 2003. 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 ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Argosy | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Freightliner Business Class | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Freightliner Century | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Freightliner FLB | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Freightliner FLD | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Sterling A-Line | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Sterling L-Line | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Western Star 4900 | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
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 | 1998 | 0 | 6 |
| Freightliner Argosy | 1999 | 0 | 9 |
| Freightliner Argosy | 2000 | 0 | 7 |
| Freightliner Argosy | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| 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 Century | 1998 | 9 | 5 |
| Freightliner Century | 1999 | 6 | 7 |
| Freightliner Century | 2000 | 15 | 6 |
| Freightliner Century | 2001 | 4 | 4 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2000 | 1 | 3 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2001 | 3 | 1 |
| Freightliner FLB | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner FLB | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner FLB | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner FLB | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner FLD | 1998 | 2 | 5 |
| Freightliner FLD | 1999 | 1 | 8 |
| Freightliner FLD | 2000 | 1 | 8 |
| Freightliner FLD | 2001 | 1 | 4 |
| Sterling A-Line | 1998 | 0 | 3 |
| Sterling A-Line | 1999 | 1 | 3 |
| Sterling A-Line | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Sterling A-Line | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1998 | 0 | 4 |
| Sterling Acterra | 1999 | 0 | 7 |
Other suspension recalls in 2003
25 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the suspension; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 03V460000 10 Nov 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 03V436000 4 Nov 2003 | RHODES TRAILERS |
| 03V411000 22 Oct 2003 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 03V371000 6 Oct 2003 | FINN CORPORATION |
| 03V369000 3 Oct 2003 | NEWMAR CORPORATION |
| 03V341000 15 Sept 2003 | TRAVEL SUPREME, INC. |
| 03V328000 12 Sept 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V342000 12 Sept 2003 | COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003