The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: WALK-IN VAN AND SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR MODEL FC-921 FRONT AXLES. STRESS CRACKS CAN OCCUR IN THE LEFT FRONT AXLE STEERING KNUCKLE.
The risk
THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT HAND STEERING KNUCKLE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED KNUCKLE WITH A LARGER CROSS SECTION IN THE AREA THAT WAS CRACKING.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner MB | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Freightliner MT | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Freightliner XB | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freightliner MB | 1993 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MB | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MB | 1995 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MB | 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MB | 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| Freightliner MT | 1993 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT | 1994 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner XB | 1993 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner XB | 1994 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner XB | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner XB | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner XB | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
Other steering recalls in 1998
19 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the steering; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 98V331000 22 Dec 1998 | ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 98V324001 15 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V305001 15 Dec 1998 | DAEWOO MOTOR DE PUERTO RICO |
| 98V320000 15 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V305000 1 Dec 1998 | DAEWOO MOTOR AMERICA |
| 98V297000 17 Nov 1998 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 98V242000 6 Oct 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V237000 29 Sept 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998