Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Manufacturer
WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC.
Vehicles affected
21
Reported to NHTSA
1996-01-05
Owners notified
1996-02-27
Defect description
THESE HEAVY TRUCKS WERE EQUIPPED WITH EXHAUST MUFFLERS WITHOUT HEAT SHIELDING.
Safety risk
SOMEONE WORKING BEHIND THE CAB COULD CONTACT THE HOT MUFFLER CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY. ALSO SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH DECK PLATES WITH NO GRAB HANDLES FOR ACCESS.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL MUFFLER SHIELDS AND, WHERE NECESSARY, GRAB HANDLES.
A PROTECTIVE GREASE COATING USED ON THE STEERING KNUCKLE WAS NOT REMOVED PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY OF THE STEERING ARMS. ALSO THE JOINTS COULD HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH KEYS THAT WERE SOFTER THAN SPECIFIED AND WITH NUTS OF A "SOFTER" MATERIAL THAN ANTICIPATED.
Safety risk
THESE CONDITIONS CAN ALLOW THE STEERING ARM TO TURNINSIDE THE KNUCKLE SHEARING THE LOCATOR KEY RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE STEERING ARM/KNUCKLE JOINTS, REPLACE THE NUTS AND KEYS, AND RETORQUE THE STEERING ARM NUTS.
STRAPS HOLDING THE SLEEPER UPPER BUNK IN THE RAISED POSITION CAN RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING.
Safety risk
IF THE RESTRAINING STRAP RELEASES SUDDENLY, THEBUNK FALLS WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN STRIKE AN OCCUPANT SITTING IN THE LOWER BUNK CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE UPPER BUNK RETAINING STRAPS WITH AN IMPROVED AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY BELT STYLE DESIGN STRAP.
THE ECM GROUND TERMINALS WERE INSTALLED SUCH THAT THERE IS RESIDUAL STRESS ON THE TERMINAL CAUSING THE TERMINAL TO FATIGUE AND EVENTUALLY FAIL.
Safety risk
IF THIS TERMINAL FAILS, THE ENGINE WILL STOP ANDNOT RE-START. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST IF THEVEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ECM GROUND TERMINAL INSTALLATION.
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.