The problem
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.
The fix
The dealer will replace the defective pitman arm ball stud with a new one, without charge.
Contacts
Vehicle description: heavy trucks.System: steering; ball stud.Consequences of defect: loss of steering control could result, causing loss ofvehicle control and an accident.
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 77V231000.
- 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.