The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE BENDIX ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESP) SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM USES MULTIPLE SENSORS AND AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO CONTROL VEHICLE UNDER STEER, OVER-STEER, AND ROLLOVER SITUATIONS. THE SYSTEM RELIES ON VEHICLE SENSORS TO BE FUNCTIONING AND ALIGNED PROPERLY. THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE MISALIGNED WITH THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT, THEREBY PROVIDING INCORRECT INFORMATION TO THE BENDIX ECU.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT VEHICLE THROTTLE CONTROL AND BRAKING, THEREBY LEADING TO LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy
BECAUSE OF THE IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIAL RISK, KENWORTH AND PETERBILT DEALERS WILL FIRST DEACTIVATE THE YAW CONTROL FEATURE OF THE BENDIX ESP SYSTEM PREVENTING INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION. WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, THE STEERING COLUMN WILL BE REPLACED TO INSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING SHAFT SENSOR AND THE FULL ESP SYSTEM WILL BE REACTIVATED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2005. PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REMEDY ARE ESTIMATED TO BE AVAILABLE IN EARLY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kenworth T600 | 2005, 2006 |
| Kenworth T800 | 2005, 2006 |
| Peterbilt 378 | 2005, 2006 |
| Peterbilt 385 | 2005, 2006 |
| Peterbilt 387 | 2005, 2006 |
Components: STEERING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenworth T600 | 2005 | 4 | 8 |
| Kenworth T600 | 2006 | 1 | 8 |
| Kenworth T800 | 2005 | 3 | 12 |
| Kenworth T800 | 2006 | 4 | 13 |
| Peterbilt 378 | 2005 | 0 | 5 |
| Peterbilt 378 | 2006 | 1 | 6 |
| Peterbilt 385 | 2005 | 0 | 4 |
| Peterbilt 385 | 2006 | 0 | 5 |
| Peterbilt 387 | 2005 | 2 | 4 |
| Peterbilt 387 | 2006 | 0 | 4 |
Other steering recalls in 2005
47 of the 562 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2005 concerned the steering; PACCAR INCORPORATED filed 113 campaigns in all.
| 05V574000 30 Dec 2005 | MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 05V540000 30 Nov 2005 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 05V541000 22 Nov 2005 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 05V507000 3 Nov 2005 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 05V496000 1 Nov 2005 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 05V455000 5 Oct 2005 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 05V408000 13 Sept 2005 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 05V389000 6 Sept 2005 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2005