1978 Freightliner Freightliner Recalls

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 82V114000
Manufacturer: FREIGHTLINER LLC
Manufactured Begin Date: April 1st, 1978
Manufactured End Date: November 1st, 1982
Date of Owner Notification: March 25th, 1983

Defect Summary:
BRAKES MAY FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS". THE AIR BRAKES ON THE FRONT AXLE MAY NOT ACTUATE AND RELEASE WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED FOR SAFE BRAKING. THE BRAKES MAY EXCEED THE .55 SECOND LIMITS.

Corrective Summary:
THE DEALER WILL MODIFY THE BRAKE SYSTEM BY ADDING AN AIR BRAKE RELAY VALVE AND NECESSARY PIPING TO THE FRONT AXLE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE.

Recall Notes:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 14,000 LB. GAWR FRONT STEERINGAXLE.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; AIR BRAKES.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THE TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR THE BRAKES TO REACT COULD BEUNSAFE. DEGRADED BRAKE CONTROL COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND MAYRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 80V031000
Manufacturer: FREIGHTLINER LLC
Manufactured Begin Date: June 1st, 1979
Manufactured End Date: February 1st, 1980
Date of Owner Notification: July 23rd, 1980

Defect Summary:
CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE TRUCK"S REAR TOWING CROSSMEMBER WHICH SUPPORTS THE TRAILER HITCH AND TO WHICH THE SAFETY CABLES ARE ATTACHED. SHOULD THESE CRACKS PROGRESS TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE SEPARATION, THE CROSSMEMBER AND THE TRAILER COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRUCK.

Corrective Summary:
DEALER WILL REPLACE THE "A" FRAMES AND ANY OTHER DAMAGED PARTS AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Recall Notes:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A REAR TOWING CROSSMEMBER AND "A"FRAME ASSEMBLY.SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; REAR TOWING CROSSMEMBER.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: TRAILER DETACHMENT CAN OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING,RESULTING IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 79V256000
Manufacturer: FREIGHTLINER LLC
Manufactured Begin Date: March 1st, 1978
Manufactured End Date: August 1st, 1978
Date of Owner Notification: February 21st, 1980

Defect Summary:
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS". THE BRAKE DRUMS DO NOT MEET WITH BRAKE RECOVERY REQUIREMENTS. BRAKES MAY BE NOT PERFORM ADEQUATELY ON LONG DOWNGRADES OR DUE TO HEAVY APPLICATIONS OF AIR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO A STOP FROM HIGH SPEEDS.

Corrective Summary:
DEALER WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE DRUMS ON THE DRIVE AXLE ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Recall Notes:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; REAR BRAKE DRUM.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: LOSS OF BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.NOTE: THE DRIVER IS URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION TO AVOID THESE SITUATIONS BYUSING LOW GEAR ON DOWNGRADES.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 79V085000
Manufacturer: FREIGHTLINER LLC
Manufactured Begin Date: May 1st, 1978
Manufactured End Date: March 1st, 1979
Date of Owner Notification: May 31st, 1979

Defect Summary:
ON SOME VEHICLES, THE LOWER STEERING DRIVE SHAFT RUBS AGAINST THE STEERING BOOT RETAINER SPRING. THIS CHAFING CAN WEAR A GROOVE INTO THE DRIVE SHAFT WHICH CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A SEPARATION OF THE TUBE.

Corrective Summary:
THE HOLE IN THE CAB FLOOR WILL BE ENLARGED AND A LARGER SPRING WILL REPLACE PRESENT SPRING. REPAIRS WILL BE DONE AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Recall Notes:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY TRUCKS, CAB OVER ENGINE MODELS EQUIPPED WITH"STRETCH CABS".SYSTEM: STEERING; BOOT RETAINER SPRING.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS WOULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND,POSSIBLY, AN ACCIDENT.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 78V146000
Manufacturer: FREIGHTLINER LLC
Manufactured Begin Date: July 1st, 1977
Manufactured End Date: March 1st, 1978
Date of Owner Notification: September 11th, 1978

Defect Summary:
THE CHECK VALVE, LOCATED ON THE INLET SIDE OF THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AIR TANKS MAY CRACK IN THE FEMALE FITTING AREA AND CAUSE A SLOW LOSS OF AIR. A LEAKING VALVE WILL REDUCE AIR PRESSURE AND PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES ON THOSE AXLES THAT DEPEND UPON THAT PART OF THE SYSTEM COULD OCCUR.

Corrective Summary:
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL NEW AIR CHECK VALVES.

Recall Notes:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY TRUCKS.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; AIR CHECK VALVE.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY COULDRESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. UNDER SOME CONDITIONS, THEEMERGENCY BRAKES MAY AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATE, POSSIBLY ALLOWING THE DRIVERSUFFICIENT TIME TO SELECT A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY.NOTE: EACH CHECK VALVE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE INSPECTED FOR A LEAK. IF ONE ISFOUND, THE DEALER SHOULD BE CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 77V231000
Manufacturer: FREIGHTLINER LLC
Date of Owner Notification: June 7th, 1978

Defect Summary:
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAIN DEFECTIVE BALL STUDS THAT WERE IMPROPERLY HEAT-TREATED AND THUS CONTAIN CRACKS. THESE STUDS, LOCATED IN THE PITMAN ARM, COULD EVENTUALLY FRACTURE IN THE THREADED PORTION UNDER THE RETAINING NUT.

Corrective Summary:
THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PITMAN ARM BALL STUD WITH A NEW ONE, WITHOUT CHARGE.

Recall Notes:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY TRUCKS.SYSTEM: STEERING; BALL STUD.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD RESULT, CAUSING LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.