THE EQUALIZING BEAM SHAFT OF THE TANDEM AXLE SUSPENSION WERE MANUFACTURED FROM AS-ROLLED SAE4140 STEEL RATHER THAN THE SPECIFIED ANNEALED SAE4140. THESE SHAFTS CAN FRACTURE INSIDE THE BEAM AT THE TOE OF THE WELD.
Safety risk
VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO VEHICLE TILT AND POSSIBLE ROLLOVER IN THE EVENT THAT BOTH EQUALIZING BEAMS, ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, EXPERIENCE A SIMULTANEOUS SHAFT FAILURE. AFFECTED SUSPENSIONS CAN ALSO DROP AND CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE GENERATING SPARKS WHICH COULD IGNITE FLAMMABLE MATERIAL.
Manufacturer remedy
OWNER NOTIFICATION IS BEING CONDUCTED BY NEWAY ANCHORLOK. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL SUSPENSION SUSPENSION BEAMS WITH SUSPENSION BEAMS CONTAINING APPROPRIATE SHAFTS.
IF BOTH SPRINGS FAIL, THE ENGINE IS NOT LIKELY TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND SUDDENLY INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
REPLACEMENT THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGS WILL BE MAILED DIRECTLY TO OWNERS. IF THE OWNERS PREFER, THEIR DEALERS CAN INSTALL THE SPRINGS FOR THEM.
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.
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.
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.