Preliminary Evaluation · Closed

RACK AND PINION FAILURE

Action number

PE09040

Opened

Aug 31, 2009

Closed

Nov 19, 2009

Outcome

Recall 09V357000

Manufacturer: FREIGHTLINER LLC

This investigation led to a recall

NHTSA links this probe to recall campaign 09V357000.

Read the recall: what is defective and the free fix →

What NHTSA is examining

A consumer complaint was filed with the agency on august 22, 2009, by an independent contractor leasing a 2009 freightliner cascadia.the complaint alleges that in april of 2009 at approximately 50,000 miles he experienced a seal rupture in the rack and pinion assembly.a new seal was installed and at 56,000 miles he found his right steer tire completely bald.the repair shop identified an internal failure of the rack and pinion assembly causing the rapid wear of the tire.odi has identified ewr field reports related to failed rack and pinions on the subject vehicles.the reports identify either an internal failure of the rack and pinion assembly that resulted in crashes or a looseness of the inner tie rod end of the rack and pinion resulting in a poor alignment and premature tire wear.information received during this investigation from freightliner detailed failures of the rack and pinion assemblies on the subject vehicles.these failures were the result of the left hand inner tie rod end becoming loose over time.when the tie rod becomes loose, it may separate from the rack and pinion assembly and make the vehicle difficult to steer.frieghtliner has concluded that a defect related to motor vehicle safety does exist on the subject vehicles and has initiated a safety recall (09v-357) that will remedy all of them.this recall involves removing the tie rod and adding a compound to it that will prevent the tie rod from coming loose over time.a copy of the recall is…

Vehicles under investigation

2005 Freightliner Cascadia2006 Freightliner Cascadia2007 Freightliner Cascadia2008 Freightliner Cascadia2009 Freightliner Cascadia2010 Freightliner Cascadia2006 Freightliner Century Class S/T2007 Freightliner Century Class S/T2008 Freightliner Century Class S/T2005 Freightliner Century Class2006 Freightliner Century Class2007 Freightliner Century Class2008 Freightliner Century Class2009 Freightliner Century Class2010 Freightliner Century Class2005 Freightliner Century ST2006 Freightliner Century ST2007 Freightliner Century ST2008 Freightliner Century ST2005 Freightliner Century2006 Freightliner Century2007 Freightliner Century2008 Freightliner Century2009 Freightliner Century2010 Freightliner Century2005 Freightliner Columbia2006 Freightliner Columbia2007 Freightliner Columbia2008 Freightliner Columbia2009 Freightliner Columbia2010 Freightliner Columbia

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation records, updated daily. An investigation is not a determination that a defect exists; many probes close without a recall.