The defect
CERTAIN MOTOR HOME CHASSIS BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER VCL OR XC CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATING BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATING BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.
The risk
THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
FREIGHTLINER IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 07V-343) AND WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR NEWMAR AT 574-773-7791.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Newmar Dutch Star | 2004, 2005 |
| Newmar Essex | 2004, 2005 |
| Newmar Mountain Aire | 2004, 2005 |
Components: STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newmar Dutch Star | 2004 | 3 | 10 |
| Newmar Dutch Star | 2005 | 5 | 9 |
| Newmar Essex | 2004 | 0 | 9 |
| Newmar Essex | 2005 | 0 | 7 |
| Newmar Mountain Aire | 2004 | 7 | 11 |
| Newmar Mountain Aire | 2005 | 4 | 9 |
Other steering recalls in 2008
62 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the steering; NEWMAR CORPORATION filed 58 campaigns in all.
| 08V682000 19 Dec 2008 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 08V610000 24 Nov 2008 | PREVOST CARS, INC. |
| 08V616000 24 Nov 2008 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 08V578000 3 Nov 2008 | MONACO COACH CORPORATION |
| 08V577000 3 Nov 2008 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 08V571000 29 Oct 2008 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 08V566000 28 Oct 2008 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 08V575000 24 Oct 2008 | TADANO AMERICA CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008