The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TUFTRAC REAR SUSPENSIONS, THE CENTER CASTING BRACKETS MAY BE OUT OF SPECIFICATION. AN OUT OF SQUARE CASTING MAY HAVE UNACCEPTABLE STRESS IN THE BRACKET WHEN IT IS INSTALLED AND MAY CAUSE IT TO CRACK IN SERVICE.
The risk
THE DRIVE AXLE MAY NOT BE HELD IN POSITION IF A CRACKED BRACKET FRACTURES COMPLETELY. THIS WILL AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL AND MAY CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CASTINGS THAT ARE OUT OF SPECIFICATION WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner FLD120 Military | 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner FLD120SD | 2007, 2008 |
| Sterling A-Line | 2007, 2008 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2007, 2008 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2007, 2008 |
Components: SUSPENSION:REAR
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 Business Class M2 | 2007 | 4 | 17 |
| Freightliner Business Class M2 | 2008 | 1 | 14 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2007 | 11 | 27 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2008 | 1 | 30 |
| Freightliner FLD120 Military | 2007 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner FLD120 Military | 2008 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner FLD120SD | 2007 | 0 | 3 |
| Freightliner FLD120SD | 2008 | 0 | 3 |
| Sterling A-Line | 2007 | 0 | 9 |
| Sterling A-Line | 2008 | 1 | 11 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2007 | 0 | 11 |
| Sterling Acterra | 2008 | 1 | 13 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2007 | 0 | 14 |
| Western Star 4900 | 2008 | 0 | 17 |
Other suspension recalls in 2007
21 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the suspension; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 07V546000 29 Nov 2007 | BRAUN CORPORATION |
| 07V536000 27 Nov 2007 | KIDRON, INCORPORATED |
| 07V518000 6 Nov 2007 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 07V502000 25 Oct 2007 | SALEEN, INC. |
| 07V505000 25 Oct 2007 | GOSHEN COACH |
| 07V470000 5 Oct 2007 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING |
| 07V327000 20 Jul 2007 | SILVER EAGLE MANUFACTURING |
| 07V308000 16 Jul 2007 | FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2007