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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCK TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH AXLE ASSEMBLIES BUILT BY EATON. THE GREASE LUBRICATION VOLUME LEVEL SPECIFIED FOR THESE TRAILER AXLES IS INSUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE PROPER LUBRICATION TO THE OUTER WHEEL END BEARING ASSEMBLY.
Safety risk
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING SYSTEM RESULTING IN WHEEL END BURN UP OR LOSS OF WHEEL END EQUIPMENT.
Manufacturer remedy
OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BY EATON. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE TRAILER AXLES AND ADD LUBRICANT IF NECESSARY.
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.
THESE AXLES CONSIST OF A STEEL TUBULAR CENTER SECTION AND FORGED STEEL SPINDLES THAT ARE WELDED TO EACH END OF THE TUBE. EITHER SPINDLE CAN CONTAIN A CIRCUMFERENTIAL CRACK THROUGH A PORTION OF ITS CROSS SECTION.
Safety risk
THIS CRACK CAN REDUCE THE EFFECTIVE SERVICE LIFE OFTHE SPINDLE AND CAUSE THE SPINDLE TO FRACTURE DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
EATON WILL USE PORTABLE ULTRASONIC TESTING EQUIPMENT TO INSPECT EACH SUSPECT TRAILER AXLE. TRAILER AXLES CONTAINING DEFECTIVE SPINDLES WILL BE REPLACED WITH EQUIVALENT AXLES.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
No complaints recorded for this model year.
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.