The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STEP VANS EQUIPPED WITH SPICER 6,000 OR 8,000 LB. FRONT STEER AXLES. THE TIE ROD END CAN PULL OUTBOARD AND SEPARATE FROM THE TIE ROD TUBE DUE TO IMPROPER THREAD ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE MALE TIE ROD END AND THE FEMALE TUBE.
The risk
SEPARATION OF THE TIE ROD END COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Freightliner MT35 | 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 1996, 1997, 1998 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
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 MT35 | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT35 | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT35 | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner MT45 | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
Other steering recalls in 1999
26 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the steering; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 99V359000 29 Dec 1999 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 99V312000 4 Nov 1999 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 99V307000 1 Nov 1999 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| 99V301000 29 Oct 1999 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 99V290000 28 Oct 1999 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 99V033006 27 Oct 1999 | COUNTRY COACH INC |
| 99V278000 20 Oct 1999 | LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 99V033005 22 Sept 1999 | M-B COMPANIES |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999