The defect
CERTAIN 2005 THOMAS BUILT FS-65 AND C-2 SCHOOL BUSES AND 2005 FREIGHTLINER ARGOSY, COLUMBIA, CENTURY ST, AND M2 BUSINESS CLASS TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 4 AND JULY 8, 2005. THE SPINDLES IN THE REAR AXLE HOUSING WERE OVERHEATED DURING THE HEAT TREATMENT PROCESS. INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED SPINDLES COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE SPINDLE.
The risk
INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED SPINDLES COULD FRACTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy
FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT FOR THE HEAT TREAT DATE CODE ON THE END OF THE REAR SPINDLES AND REPLACE THE AXLE HOUSING IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Argosy | 2005 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2005 |
| Freightliner Century ST | 2005 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2005 |
| Thomas C2 | 2005 |
| Thomas FS-65 | 2005 |
Components: SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
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 | 2005 | 1 | 4 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2005 | 7 | 9 |
| Freightliner Century ST | 2005 | 1 | 6 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2005 | 38 | 14 |
| Thomas C2 | 2005 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas FS-65 | 2005 | 2 | 2 |
Other suspension recalls in 2005
37 of the 562 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2005 concerned the suspension; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 05V545000 30 Nov 2005 | WELD-IT COMPANY |
| 05V544000 30 Nov 2005 | WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION |
| 05V542000 30 Nov 2005 | HYUNDAI TRANSLEAD |
| 05V546000 29 Nov 2005 | BENTLEY MOTORS LTD |
| 05V538000 21 Nov 2005 | APRILIA USA, INC. |
| 05V514000 10 Nov 2005 | FORETRAVEL, INC. |
| 05V508000 3 Nov 2005 | STOUGHTON TRAILERS, LLC |
| 05V493000 25 Oct 2005 | GREAT DANE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2005