The defect
ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES. A BRAIDED GROUND STRAP FOR THE STARTER MAY RUB ON A STEEL CHASSIS BRAKE LINE POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FLUID LEAK.
The risk
A BRAKE FLUID LEAK CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE BRAIDED GROUND STRAP WILL BE REPLACED WITH AN INSULATED CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 10, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner FS-65 | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 FS-65 | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner FS-65 | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
| Freightliner FS-65 | 1998 | 1 | 4 |
| Freightliner FS-65 | 1999 | 2 | 7 |
| Freightliner FS-65 | 2000 | 12 | 6 |
| Freightliner FS-65 | 2001 | 12 | 4 |
| Freightliner FS-65 | 2002 | 5 | 3 |
Other service brakes, hydraulic recalls in 2004
54 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the service brakes, hydraulic; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 04V591000 15 Dec 2004 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 04V585000 8 Dec 2004 | DUCATI NORTH AMERICA |
| 04V573000 6 Dec 2004 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 04V576000 6 Dec 2004 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 04V565000 23 Nov 2004 | FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL |
| 04V552000 18 Nov 2004 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 04V539000 9 Nov 2004 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 04V525000 3 Nov 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004