Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- Component
- Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- Manufacturer
- INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION
- Vehicles affected
- 294
- Reported to NHTSA
- 2007-09-24
- Owners notified
- 2007-11-16
Defect description
CERTAIN IC SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 29 AND AUGUST 28, 2007. THE ROUTING OF THE SERVICE AND PARKING BRAKE RUBBER DROP HOSES TO THE REAR AXLE'S BRAKE COMPONENTS MAY BRING THEM TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST TAIL PIPE.
Safety risk
THE RUBBER HOSES MAY MELT IF ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE TAIL PIPE CAUSING EITHER OF THE TWO POSSIBILITIES: 1) AN AIR LEAK ON THE PARKING BRAKE HOSE MAY CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKES TO SLOWLY APPLY WHILE DEPLETING BOTH THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AIR CIRCUITS. EVEN THOUGH THE AIR PRESSURE GAUGE AND LOW AIR PRESSURE WARNING BUZZER WOULD SOUND, THESE CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE THE BUS TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. 2) AN AIR LEAK ON THE SERVICE BRAKE HOSE MAY RESULT IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES WHILE ALSO DEPLETING THE PRIMARY AIR TANK POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BRAKE HOSES TO DETERMINE THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE TAIL PIPE. ANY HOSE FOUND TO BE CLOSER THAN 4" WILL BE REPLACED AND BOTH HOSES WILL THEN BE RE-ROUTED TO ENSURE PROPER DISTANCE FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE INSPECTION AND REPAIR WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 16, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT IC CORPORATION AT 1-800-843-5615 OR INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.