The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND TRUCK-TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH TRW DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES, THE REPLACEMENT CLAMP AND DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES CONTAIN A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE 5/8-11-GRADE B PREVAILING TORQUE HEX NUT. IF THE FINAL TIGHTENING IS LESS THAN 65 LB.-FT., THE CLAMP LOAD WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLY LOW AND COULD COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DRAG LINK.
The risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN THE BALL SOCKET SEPARATING AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED HEX NUT(S). OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2004. 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 4900EX | 2003, 2004 |
| Western Star 4900FA | 2003, 2004 |
| Western Star 4900SA | 2003, 2004 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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 4900EX | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 4900EX | 2004 | 0 | 2 |
| Western Star 4900FA | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 4900FA | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 4900SA | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Western Star 4900SA | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
Other steering recalls in 2004
30 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the steering; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 04V610000 28 Dec 2004 | GILLIG CORPORATION |
| 04V579000 9 Dec 2004 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 04V567000 9 Dec 2004 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING |
| 04V522000 3 Nov 2004 | MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK OF AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V474000 1 Oct 2004 | NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 04V448000 20 Sept 2004 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 04V456000 20 Sept 2004 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 04V424000 30 Aug 2004 | VAN HOOL, N.V. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004