The problem
Vehicle description: heavy duty class 8 trucks equipped with fontaine fifth wheel assemblies. The fifth wheel mounting plates can crack.
The risk
Under the trailer loading, the mounting plate could eventually fail due to fatigue.
The fix
Dealers will inspect and replace the mounting plates that are cracked.
Contacts
Freightliner recall no. Fl-252. Owner notification began august 7, 2000. 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 or fontaine at 1-800-874-9780. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Freightliner dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 00V019002.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.