The defect
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA, COLUMBIA, CENTURY, CORONADO, AND CLASSIC XL TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2004, THROUGH JUNE 15, 2010 FOR THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. THE LOWER PINION BEARING MAY CORRODE AND FAIL. A FAILED BEARING MAY LEAD TO DAMAGE OF THE SPOOL VALVE SEALS. A DAMAGE SPOOL VALVE SEAL MAY ALLOW HYDRAULIC FLUID TO FLOW TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT TURN PORT INSTEAD OF FLOWING TO THE RETURN PORT.
The risk
THE STEERING COULD UNEXPECTEDLY TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, MAKING THE VEHICLE MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER BEARING FOR CORROSION. IF CORROSION IS FOUND, THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO CORROSION IS FOUND, ON THE BEARING, THE BEARING WILL BE PACKED WITH GREASE AND THE RUBBER BELLOWS WILL BE REPLACED WITH SEALANT ADDED BETWEEN THE BELLOWS AND THE RACK HOUSING. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED IN DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Cascadia | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Freightliner Century | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Freightliner Classic XL | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Freightliner Columbia | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Freightliner Coronado | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Components: STEERING:RACK AND PINION
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
Other steering recalls in 2011
26 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the steering; DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA filed 134 campaigns in all.
| 11V591000 19 Dec 2011 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC |
| 11V565000 23 Nov 2011 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 11V549000 15 Nov 2011 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 11V446000 25 Aug 2011 | GILLIG CORPORATION |
| 11V406000 5 Aug 2011 | MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 11V398000 5 Aug 2011 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC |
| 11V378000 26 Jul 2011 | VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. |
| 11V372000 21 Jul 2011 | NAVISTAR, INC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011