The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS AND SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS-COWLS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE KEY TO THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE MAY NOT ADEQUATELY RETAIN THE KEY, ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN A GEAR OTHER THAN THAT INDICATED ON THE "PRNDL", OR IN SOME CASES, "RNDL."
The risk
THE DOMESTIC SPECIAL ORDER (DSO) PARK BRAKE MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, OR IN THE VEHICLE MOVING IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. IN SOME VEHICLES THE DSO PARKING BRAKE MECHANISM ALSO MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED, WHICH CAN RESULT IN THE PARK BRAKE NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFT TUBE AND, IF SO EQUIPPED, TO HAVE THE DSO PARK BRAKE LINKAGE ADJUSTED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford B800 | 1998 |
| Ford F700 | 1998 |
| Ford F800 | 1998 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford B800 | 1998 | 6 | 1 |
| Ford F700 | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Ford F800 | 1998 | 6 | 2 |
Other power train recalls in 1997
13 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the power train; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 97V233000 16 Dec 1997 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V204000 13 Nov 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V171000 7 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V147000 9 Sept 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V090002 2 Sept 1997 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 97V097000 9 Jun 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V090001 28 May 1997 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 97V084000 5 May 1997 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997