ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SPRING BRAKE CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLIES, THERE IS A RECESSED AREA ON TOP OF THE VALVE IN WHICH A BRASS GUIDE PIN FITS DOWN INSIDE THE BODY OF THE VALVE AND IS HELD IN PLACE BY A STEEL SNAP RING. THE RECESSED AREA ALLOWS ACCUMULATION OF WATER, DIRT, AND/OR CHEMICALS TO BUILD UP BEHIND THE SNAP RING TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL NO LONGER CONTAIN THE GUIDE PIN RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF THE AIR VALVE.
Safety risk
FAILURE OF THE VALVE IN AN EMPTY OR LIGHTLY LOADED TRAILER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION COULD RESULT IN A HARD APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES, POSSIBLY LOCKING UP THE TRAILER WHEELS AND RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
SEALCO WILL PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS TO ITS CUSTOMERS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SEALCO AT 602-253-1007 OR GREAT DANE AT 912-644-2100.
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Manufacturer
GREAT DANE TRAILERS, INC.
Vehicles affected
4,331
Reported to NHTSA
1997-12-30
Owners notified
1997-12-12
Defect description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS (ECU) FOR OVER-THE-ROAD TRAILER APPLICATIONS. THE COVER SEAL (O-RING) MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN EASY-STOP TRAILER ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS. AN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED SEAL COULD PERMIT WATER TO ENTER THE ECU CAUSING A FAULT TO DEVELOP. THIS WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE'S TRAILER ABS WARNING LAMP TO ILLUMINATE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE WATER CONTACTS THE BOARD, DEACTIVATING ALL OR PART OF THE ABS.
Safety risk
IF THE WARNING LAMP SIGNAL IS IGNORED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, CORROSION CAN DEVELOP EVENTUALLY LEAKING TO A COMPLETE LOSS OF ECU FUNCTION. THE SERVICE BRAKES WOULD CONTINUE TO BE FULLY FUNCTIONAL.
Manufacturer remedy
ROCKWELL IS CONDUCTING THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECU ON THESE TRAILERS.
THE CHAIN TIE ANCHOR MOUNTING WELDS CAN CRACK AND/OR THE CHAIN TIE CAN PULL OUT FROM THE CROSSMEMBER.
Safety risk
FAILURE OF THE CHAIN TIE ANCHOR CONNECTION CAN ALLOW A LOAD SECURED TO THE CHAIN TIE TO SHIFT, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL THE CHAIN TIE ANCHORS MOUNTED TO THE ALUMINUM CROSSMEMBERS TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL FASTENING TO THE CROSSMEMBER AND ADDITIONAL WELDING AND REINFORCEMENT OF THE CHAIN TIE ANCHORS ON STEEL CROSSMEMBERS.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Parking brake
1
—
Service brakes, air: disc
1
—
Unknown or other
1
—
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.