The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING, THE BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY AT THE INNER END OF THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD MAY BE DAMAGED IN A SHARP TURN. EXCESSIVE TIE ROD ANGLES MAY LOOSEN THE TIE ROD IN THE BALL SOCKET OR DAMAGE THE THREADED TIE ROD SOCKET ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING RACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE THREADED END OF THE BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE.
The risk
A FRACTURED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WILL MAKE THE VEHICLE MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE FRONT AXLE STEERING STOPS TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE IN THE TIE ROD BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLY AND STEERING COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2008, AND WILL BE MAILED IN PHASES THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Century ST | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Classic XL | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Freightliner Coronado | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
Other steering recalls in 2007
38 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the steering; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 07V596000 21 Dec 2007 | FARBER SPECIALTY VEHICLES |
| 07V592000 21 Dec 2007 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 07V591000 20 Dec 2007 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 07V590000 20 Dec 2007 | MONACO COACH CORPORATION |
| 07V584000 19 Dec 2007 | FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL |
| 07V583000 14 Dec 2007 | FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. |
| 07V577000 12 Dec 2007 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 07V570000 10 Dec 2007 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2007