The defect
ON CERTAIN FIRE TRUCKS, ONE OR BOTH OF THE CAB TILT CYLINDERS MAY LOCK WHEN THE CAB IS BEING LOWERED. THIS CAN HAPPEN IF A VELOCITY FUSE TRIPS IN EITHER OF THE CYLINDERS.
The risk
IF ONLY ONE VELOCITY FUSE TRIPS AND NOT THE OTHER, THE RESULTING UNEQUAL LOADING MAY CAUSE ONE OR BOTH OF THE CYLINDERS TO BEND ALLOWING THE CAB TO LOWER TO THE CHASSIS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL FLOW RESTRICTORS IN THE CAB TILT BLINDERS TO REDUCE THE SPEED AT WHICH THE CAB LOWERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 11, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| American Lafrance Eagle | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| American Lafrance Metropolitan | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Components: STRUCTURE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Lafrance Eagle | 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Eagle | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Eagle | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Eagle | 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Eagle | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| American Lafrance Eagle | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| American Lafrance Eagle | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Eagle | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Metropolitan | 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Metropolitan | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Metropolitan | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Metropolitan | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| American Lafrance Metropolitan | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| American Lafrance Metropolitan | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
Other structure recalls in 2004
44 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the structure; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 04V601000 30 Dec 2004 | PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V588000 13 Dec 2004 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 04V569000 3 Dec 2004 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 04V564000 30 Nov 2004 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 04V563000 23 Nov 2004 | VERITRANS SPECIALTY VEHICLES, INC. |
| 04V545000 15 Nov 2004 | ORION BUS INDUSTRIES LTD. |
| 04V533000 2 Nov 2004 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 04V523000 2 Nov 2004 | BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004