Suspension:front

NHTSA recall 98V085000 · announced April 21, 1998 · filed by Freightliner Corporation · 22,186 units affected

The problem

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR INTERAXLE DRIVELINE U-JOINTS. DEFLECTOR RINGS, A PART OF THE SYSTEM TO SEAL THE U-JOINTS FROM CONTAMINATES, ARE LOOSE. THIS ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE U-JOINT BEARING AREA RESULT IN DILUTION OF THE LUBRICANT, OXIDATION OF THE BEARING AND SEAL SURFACES, AND LOSS OF LUBRICANT.

The risk

IF THIS PROBLEM GOES UNDETECTED, THE INTERAXLE DRIVELINE CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

What to do

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE U-JOINTS WITH THE CURRENT DESIGN U-JOINTS.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES.THE FIRST PHASE IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JULY 13, 1998. THE SECOND PHASE WILL BEGIN AUGUST 8, 1998. 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 FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Vehicles covered by this recall

• 1996 Freightliner Century
• 1997 Freightliner Century
• 1998 Freightliner Century

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public recall data. This page reports official records and is not legal, medical, or repair advice.