The defect
AUTOCAR IS RECALLING 127 MY 2008-2009 ACX, WX, AND WXLL HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS. INSUFFICIENT TORQUE WAS APPLIED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS TO THE NUT ON THE PINCH BOLT THAT SECURES THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TORQUE CONTROLLED TOOL WAS CALIBRATED TO A LOWER TORQUE RATING THAN SPECIFIED FOR THE APPLICATION.
The risk
IF THE STEERING BOLT WERE TO LOOSEN, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
AUTOCAR WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FOR SCHEDULING REPAIR OF THE VEHICLES. DEALERS WILL TORQUE THE STEERING KNUCKLE BOLT TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 25, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUTOCAR AT 1-765-489-5499.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Autocar ACX | 2008, 2009 |
| Autocar WX | 2008, 2009 |
| Autocar Wxll | 2008, 2009 |
Components: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autocar ACX | 2008 | 0 | 10 |
| Autocar ACX | 2009 | 0 | 8 |
| Autocar WX | 2008 | 0 | 10 |
| Autocar WX | 2009 | 0 | 6 |
| Autocar Wxll | 2008 | 0 | 9 |
| Autocar Wxll | 2009 | 0 | 7 |
Other steering recalls in 2008
62 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the steering; AUTOCAR, LLC filed 42 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. |
| 08V575000 24 Oct 2008 | TADANO AMERICA CORPORATION |
| 08V565000 24 Oct 2008 | FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008