The defect
A PROTECTIVE GREASE COATING USED ON THE STEERING KNUCKLE WAS NOT REMOVED PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY OF THE STEERING ARMS. ALSO THE JOINTS COULD HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH KEYS THAT WERE SOFTER THAN SPECIFIED AND WITH NUTS OF A "SOFTER" MATERIAL THAN ANTICIPATED.
The risk
THESE CONDITIONS CAN ALLOW THE STEERING ARM TO TURNINSIDE THE KNUCKLE SHEARING THE LOCATOR KEY RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE STEERING ARM/KNUCKLE JOINTS, REPLACE THE NUTS AND KEYS, AND RETORQUE THE STEERING ARM NUTS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Western Star Conventional | 1994 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Star Conventional | 1994 | 0 | 4 |
Other steering recalls in 1995
16 of the 260 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1995 concerned the steering; WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC. filed 38 campaigns in all.
| 95V249003 22 Dec 1995 | UTILITY TRAILER MFG. CO. |
| 95V249001 2 Dec 1995 | DORSEY TRAILERS, INC. |
| 95V249002 27 Nov 1995 | GREAT DANE TRAILERS, INC. |
| 95V134000 17 Jul 1995 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 95V132000 13 Jul 1995 | OSHKOSH TRUCK CORPORATION |
| 95V119000 7 Jun 1995 | VOLVO GM HEAVY TRUCK CORP |
| 95V089000 12 May 1995 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 95V088000 12 May 1995 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1995