The defect
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS", IN THAT SOME DUAL COMPARTMENT AIR RESERVOIRS WERE INSTALLED WITHOUT A DRAIN VALVE IN BOTH COMPARTMENTS. THE OMISSION OF THE DRAIN VALVE COULD CAUSE: 1) THE TANK TO FILL UP WITH WATER DUE TO CONDENSATION, 2) REDUCED AIR VOLUME, 3) CONTAMINATION OF THE AIR SYSTEM WITH WATER, CAUSING MALFUNCTION OF THE RELEASE VALVES, CHECK VALVES, ETC., AND INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF AIR SYSTEM COMPONENT FREEZE-UP IN COLD CLIMATES. THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION.
The remedy
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A DRAIN VALVE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Other service brakes, air recalls in 1978
32 of the 272 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1978 concerned the service brakes, air; WHITE MOTOR CORPORATION filed 143 campaigns in all.
| 78V260000 4 Dec 1978 | INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER |
| 78V241000 25 Oct 1978 | HENDRICKSON MFG. CO. |
| 78V235000 23 Oct 1978 | POLAR COMPANY |
| 78V231000 20 Oct 1978 | PIKE TRAILER COMPANY |
| 78V234000 20 Oct 1978 | DORSEY TRAILERS, INC. |
| 78V230000 20 Oct 1978 | BUTLER MANUFACTURING |
| 78V233000 20 Oct 1978 | BUDD COMPANY |
| 78V232000 20 Oct 1978 | WALKER EQUIPMENT |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1978