A SUDDEN HYDRAULIC PRESSURE LOSS DURING HARD TURNS RESULTS IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE PRESSURE LOSS OCCURS WHEN THE HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN ENGINE COOLING FAN TURNS OFF IN THE TURN.
Safety risk
THE DRIVER REACTS TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST BY OVERSTEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVES WILL BE REPLACED WITH VALVES OF A NEW DESIGN. UNTIL SUCH TIME AS PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO DISCONNECT THE FAN CUTOFF SWITCH SO THAT HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN FANS WILL RUN FULL TIME, ELIMINATING THE PRESSURE SPIKE.
Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
74
Reported to NHTSA
1994-05-10
Owners notified
1994-05-05
Defect description
AIR BRAKE SUPPLY LINES ARE REVERSED AT THE BRAKE TREADLE VALVE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE MODULATED SPRING BRAKE FEATURE ON THE REAR AXLE BRAKE TO BE INOPERABLE. IN THE EVENT THE REAR BRAKE SUPPLY RESERVOIR WERE LOST, THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKES WITHOUT PROPER FUNCTION OF THE MODULATED SPRING BRAKE ACTION OF THE REAR BRAKE AXLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.
Safety risk
LOSS OF THE SECONDARY SPRING BRAKE FUNCTION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IF THE PRIMARY AIR BRAKES FAIL.
Manufacturer remedy
VEHICLE OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SWAP SUPPLY LINES AT THE TREADLE VALVE TO OBTAIN THE CORRECT PLUMBING, AND WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR LABOR EXPENSES.
THE WHEELBEARING LOCKNUT AND COTTER PIN WERE NOT INSTALLED ON THE FRONT AXLE HUBS. THE CAN CAUSE A GRADUAL INCREASE IN WHEEL SHIMMY.
Safety risk
THIS CAN RESULT IN INCREASED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING AND, IF UNCORRECTED, SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE AXLE.
Manufacturer remedy
REPAIR KITS WILL BE FURNISHED TO OWNERS AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR LABOR AND MATERIALS WILL BE MADE.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Suspension: rear: shock absorber
1
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Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.