The defect
Autocar is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Xpeditor heavy-duty class 8 vehicles, manufactured from December 17, 2007, through July 10, 2012 and equipped with a right-hand (passenger-side) Bostrom air-ride seat. The seatbelt and tether intermediate connection point (ICP) located on the seat bracket may interfere with the seatbelt retractor mechanism as the seat is pneumatically adjusted for height. Over time, the interference may cause the retractor mechanism cover to crack, allowing the retractor spring to become loose and inoperable. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
In the event of a crash, if the seat belt retractor malfunctions, the passenger may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury or death.
The remedy
Autocar will notify owners and provide instructions for scheduling the vehicle repair, free of charge. The recall began on November 13, 2012. Owners may contact Autocar Service Department at 1-888-218-3611.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Autocar Xpeditor | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
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 Xpeditor | 2008 | 0 | 4 |
| Autocar Xpeditor | 2009 | 0 | 5 |
| Autocar Xpeditor | 2010 | 0 | 6 |
| Autocar Xpeditor | 2011 | 1 | 7 |
| Autocar Xpeditor | 2012 | 0 | 9 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2012
9 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the seat belts; AUTOCAR, LLC filed 42 campaigns in all.
| 12V510000 18 Oct 2012 | Volvo Trucks North America |
| 12V359000 25 Jul 2012 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 12V360000 25 Jul 2012 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 12V322000 26 Jun 2012 | CAMPAGNA MOTORS |
| 12V100000 13 Mar 2012 | TRANS TECH BUS |
| 12V099000 13 Mar 2012 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. |
| 12V090000 6 Mar 2012 | TRANS TECH BUS |
| 12V058000 16 Feb 2012 | MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK OF AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012