INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION: Safety Recalls in 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THERE IS INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE AIR BRAKE S-CAM AND THE END OF ONE OF THE KNUCKLE STUDS. AS THE BRAKE SHOE LINING WEARS, THE S-CAM ROTATION MAY BE LIMITED BY THE INTERFERING KNUCKLE STUD. IF THE S-CAM CAN NOT ROTATE THROUGH ITS FULL RANGE OF MOTION, THE BRAKING FORCE CAN NOT BE FULLY TRANSMITTED FROM THE BRAKE SHOE LININGS TO THE BRAKE DRUMS.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE CHECK VALVES IN THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS."

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUS. AN AIR BRAKE LINE CONTROLLING THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND COULD RUPTURE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES BUILT WITH ABS AIR BRAKE ECU AND A 100 GALLON FUEL TANK MOUNTED BETWEEN THE RAILS AND BEHIND THE REAR AXLE ON MODELS WITH A 276" WHEEL BASE. THE ABS ECU INTERFERED WITH THE CROSS MEMBER MOUNTED BEHIND THE REAR AXLE AND IN FRONT OF THE BETWEEN THE RAILS FUEL TANK. THIS CREATED A NO-BUILD SITUATION AT THE PLANT - THE PLANT WOULD EITHER ELIMINATE OR RELOCATE THE CROSS MEMBER OR MOVE THE ECU AS NEEDED.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH REAR LEAF SPRING SUSPENSIONS (MODELS 4700 BUILT WITH REAR LEAF SUSPENSIONS AND MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 9, THROUGH DECEMBER 16, 1998; MODELS 3400 AND 3800 BUILT WITH 14SBK REAR LEAF SPRING SUSPENSIONS AND BUILT APRIL 14 THROUGH MAY 10, 1999; AND MODELS 3400 AND 3800 BUILT WITH REAR LEAF SPRING SUSPENSIONS AND MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 10 THROUGH MAY 18, 1999). ON VEHICLES WHERE THE FRAME TO AXLE HOSE LENGTH WAS TOO LONG, A CHAFING CONDITION EXISTS ON SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN HOSE RUPTURE. ON VEHICLES WHERE THE HOSES ARE TOO SHORT, A HOSE SEPARATION COULD OCCUR WITH SEVERE SUSPENSION ARTICULATION.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPED WITH BOSCH 9" X 3" PARKING BRAKE, SPRING ACTUATED, FOR HYDRAULIC LESS AIR SOURCE AND ACTUATED BY PARKING BRAKE KNOB IN INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PARKING BRAKE HOSE CHAFES AT VARIOUS POINTS THROUGH THE ROUTING OF THE HOSES TO AND FROM THE HAND CONTROL VALVE.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH CODE 16XWD (SUNSHADE OPTION CODE). SOME WIRES IN THE SUNSHADE WIRE HARNESS HAD INSULATION THAT DID NOT MEET TEMPERATURE SPECIFICATIONS. SOME HARNESSES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE ENOUGH MELTED INSULATION TO CREATE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH STEERING COLUMNS SUPPLIED BY DOUGLAS AUTOTEC. THE STEERING COLUMNS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE OR DISLOCATED WELD.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS ASSEMBLED WITH SKF LEVEL 2 TRUCK HUB UNITS (THU) RECEIVED FROM MERITOR. THESE HUBS CAN FATIGUE CRACK.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DANA/SPRAGUE WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLIES. THE KNURLED PIVOT SHAFT (WHICH OPERATES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM) IS WELDED TO A LEVER, WHICH CONNECTS TO LINKAGE FROM THE WIPER MOTOR. THE WELD AT THE PIVOT SHAFT TO LEVER CAN FAIL.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES, EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR AIR BRAKE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS. SOME OF THE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS HAD INSUFFICIENT TORQUE APPLIED TO THE GUIDE PAWL CAP SCREW.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY TRUCK CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 16,000 LB., 18,000 LB., OR 20,000 LB. HEAVY DUTY STEERING AXLES. THE INNER WHEEL BEARING CONE FOR THE STEERING AXLE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY DOES NOT PROPERLY FIT ONTO THE NAVISTAR STEERING AXLE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY. IMPROPER FIT OF THE BEARING TO THE SPINDLE INCREASES THE STRESS LEVELS TO THE STEERING AXLE SPINDLE WHICH COULD CAUSE SPINDLE FAILURE.

SCHOOL, TRANSIT, OR HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPICER 6,000 OR 8,000 LB. FRONT STEER AXLES. THE TIE ROD END CAN PULL OUTBOARD AND SEPARATE FROM THE TIE ROD TUBE DUE TO IMPROPER THREAD ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE MALE TIE ROD END AND THE FEMALE TUBE.