The problem
On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with manual transmissions, lower clutch rods with turnbuckles are failing from fatigue near the turnbuckle due to bending forces experienced during each clutch pedal cycle.
The risk
The clutch rod can break without warning and make it difficult to shift and if the clutch rod breaks while the vehicle is stopped or decelerating, the vehicle could lunge unexpectedly in the direction of the selected gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will replace the clutch rod assembly with a solid rod design that does not have a turnbuckle. Owner notification began july 19, 2002. 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 international at 1-800-448-7825.
Contacts
Also, customers can 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 International, International Harvester dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 02V174000.
- 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.