The problem
Dtna is recalling certain model year 2011 freightliner cascadia, columbia glider kit, coronado, m2, and western star4900 heavy trucks manufactured from october 16, 2010, through march 9, 2011, equipped with gunite automatic slack adjusters manufactured from october 15, 2010, through january 31, 2011. Due to an incomplete "knitting" of the iron at the time of casting, inadequate structural integrity of the slack adjuster housing can occur, which could cause the housing to break at the handle under normal operating loads.
The risk
If the slack adjuster housing were to break, the wheel brake to which the slack adjuster is attached would no longer function, causing the vehicle to have reduced braking capacity and, if mounted on the steer axle, the vehicle could pull to one side, possibly resulting in a crash.
The fix
Dtna will notify owners and dealers will replace any affected slack adjusters free of charge. The safety recall began on july 5, 2011. Owners may contact dtna at 1-800-547-0712.
Contacts
Dtna's recall campaign number is fl-605. Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.Safercar.Gov>http://www.Safercar.Gov</a> .
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, Western Star dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 11V249000.
- 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.