International Motors, LLC: Safety Recalls in 2005

CERTAIN TRUCKS BUILT WITH A 8X6 WHEEL CONFIGURATION (TRIDEMS) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, 'AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS.' THE AS-BUILT AIR BRAKE COMPONENT SIZE AND CONFIGURATION ARE INADEQUATE FOR THE EXTENDED WHEELBASES CAUSING THE MID-REAR AND REAR-REAR AXLE BRAKE APPLY TIMING TO BE NONCOMPLIANT WITH THE STANDARD.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL GROUND CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE ENGINE BLOCK WITH THE STARTER MAY BE ROUTED IN A WAY THAT COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST THE STARTER'S POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES.

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE CAB ENTRY STEPS WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY CAUSING THEM TO HAVE LOWER MATERIAL STRENGTH PROPERTIES THAN DESIGNED. THESE LOWER MATERIAL STRENGTH PROPERTIES CAN ALLOW THE STEP TREAD TO FRACTURE AND SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL USAGE.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCK/TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR SERIES 145 AND 160 REAR DRIVE AXLES. THE SUSPECT REAR DRIVE AXLE'S SPINDLES MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED. SUCH A CONDITION LESSENS THE OVERALL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SPINDLES AND COULD RESULT IN ITS FRACTURE.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCK/TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH SEARS ATLAS SERIES 35, 70, OR 80 DRIVER'S SEATS, WHEN THE SEATS ARE IN THEIR LOWEST, MOST REARWARD ADJUSTED POSITION, THEY MAY CHAFE THE SEAT BELT TETHER THAT CONNECTS FROM THE SEAT TO THE BACK OF THE CAB.

CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH 2006 INTERNATIONAL HEAVY TRUCKS AND IC CORP CE SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 4, 2004, AND MARCH 31, 2005. THE ANCHOR BOLT THAT IS THE PIVOT POINT FOR THE DRIVELINE PARKING BRAKE SHOES MAY FATIGUE AND BREAK AS A RESULT OF AN INCORRECT SURFACE TREATMENT.

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. CERTAIN IC MY 2002-2007 BESB, CESB, FESB, AND RESB SCHOOL BUSES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN STATES OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE MICROSWITCHES USED INTERNALLY TO POSITION THE SIGN IN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS MAY MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE SIGN TO OPEN OR CLOSE IN AN IMPROPER POSITION, OR TO NOT OPEN AT ALL.

CERTAIN IC MY 2002 THROUGH 2004 3800; 2002 THROUGH 2006 CESB, FESB, AND RESB; AND 2006 AND 2007 BESB SCHOOL BUSES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE MICROSWITCHES USED INTERNALLY TO POSITION THE STOP ARM SIGN IN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS MAY MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE SIGN TO OPEN OR CLOSE IN AN IMPROPER POSITION, OR TO NOT OPEN AT ALL.

ON CERTAIN 4X2 AND 6X4 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE BETWEEN THE BATTERIES AND THE STARTER MAY RUB AGAINST AN ELECTRICAL GROUND CABLE BETWEEN THE STARTER AND FRAME RAIL.

ON CERTAIN 4X2 MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS, A LONGER FRONT HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE WAS SUBSTITUTED FOR THE SHORTER, CORRECT LENGTH HOSE.

ON CERTAIN CHASSIS, TRUCKS, AND TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH AIR BRAKES, THE PUSH ROD THAT CONNECTS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE BRAKE VALVE WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND COULD BREAK UNDER CERTAIN LOADING CONDITIONS.

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH HOLLAND/NEWAY AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS, A TRANSVERSE BEAM CASTING MAY FRACTURE UNDER NORMAL LOADS. IF A CASTING BREAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ON A ROADWAY THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR PIECES OF THE CASTING TO BECOME PROJECTILES AND THE SUSPENSION'S TRANSVERSE BEAM MAY DROP DOWN LOW ENOUGH TO CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE.

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR OPERATED FIFTH WHEEL SLIDES AND AN MSVA 7-PACK ACCESSORY CONTROLLER, THE 7-PACK CAN ALLOW WATER TO CONTAMINATE ITS CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS COULD RESULT IN INADVERTENT OPERATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL SLIDE CONTROL.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ACCURIDE ALUMINUM WHEELS, THE WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY PRE-STRESSED. THIS ALLOWS CRACKS TO DEVELOP OVER TIME.