The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH HORTON FAN DRIVES. THE FAN DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS RECONFIGURED WHICH RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE DEMAND FOR FAN ACTIVATION AND ASSOCIATED STRESS TO ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL COMPONENTS. VARIOUS COMPONENT FAILURE MODELS, COMBINED WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAN CLUTCH AND ITS BEARINGS, CAN CAUSE FAN CLUTCH BEARINGS TO FAIL PREMATURELY AND RESULT IN A LOCKED FAN.
The risk
IF THE FAN IS LOCKED, THE THE SYSTEM CALLS FOR THE FAN TO BE ON, THE FAN CLUTCH WILL SLIP, GENERATE HEAT, AND UNLESS RELEASED, WILL RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN CLUTCH DRIVE DISC WITH ONE THAT INCORPORATES A THERMALLY ACTIVATED PRESSURE RELIEF.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner FLA | 1993, 1994 |
| Freightliner FLB | 1993, 1994 |
| Freightliner FLD | 1993, 1994 |
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freightliner FLA | 1993 | 0 | 4 |
| Freightliner FLA | 1994 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner FLB | 1993 | 0 | 5 |
| Freightliner FLB | 1994 | 0 | 4 |
| Freightliner FLD | 1993 | 0 | 4 |
| Freightliner FLD | 1994 | 0 | 5 |
Other engine and engine cooling recalls in 1996
7 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the engine and engine cooling; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 96V115000 1 Jul 1996 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 96V058000 4 Apr 1996 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC. |
| 96V052000 27 Mar 1996 | SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
| 96V005000 16 Jan 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V006000 11 Jan 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V022000 5 Jan 1996 | WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996