The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. LEAKS THROUGH THE FIREWALL OR STEERING SHAFT BOOTS ALLOWS WATER TO RUN DOWN THE STEERING SHAFT. THE STEERING SHAFT SLIP SPLINE CORRODES CAUSING IT TO SEIZE.
The risk
INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT WITH A NEW DESIGN THAT IS INSTALLED IN AN INVERTED ORIENTATION SO NO WATER CAN ENTER THE SPLINES.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner Century | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
Components: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
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 Century | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner Century | 1996 | 0 | 7 |
| Freightliner Century | 1997 | 4 | 4 |
Other steering recalls in 1997
14 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the steering; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 97V191000 1 Nov 1997 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 97V181000 20 Oct 1997 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 97V177000 20 Oct 1997 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
| 97V169000 7 Oct 1997 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 97V165000 30 Sept 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V154000 12 Sept 1997 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
| 97V138000 29 Aug 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V142000 29 Aug 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997