The problem
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks built with arvinmeritor front axle ff-981. The wheel separator plates are incompatible with skf phase iv truck hub units incorporated into the arvinmeritor ff-981 front axle assemblies installed on vehicles with wheel mounting flanges of 10 mm or less and brake drum mounting flanges of 6 mm or less.
The risk
The combination of components could reduce the service life of the front hub, which could result in a fracture. If a hub fractures, vehicle control, braking, and stability can be affected. In extreme cases, the wheel could separate from the vehicle causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will change the front hubs. Owner notification began december 10, 2001. 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 kenworth at 1-425-828-5000.
Contacts
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 Kenworth dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 01V293002.
- 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.