NHTSA complaint: 1995 FREIGHTLINER FL-106 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS:FOOT CONTROL/VALVE
OUR 1995 FREIGHTLINER ROLL-OFF TRUCK WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED 6/9/03 IN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FREIGHTLINER FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKES ON 7/7/03, ONE MONTH AFTER THE ACCIDENT. FREIGHTLINER REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGES TO OUR VEHICLE BECAUSE "THEY DID WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF THEM. THEY SENT OUT THE NOTICES. IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THE NECESSARY REPAIRS DONE". HOW WERE WE TO KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM? THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED BEFORE WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT! IT IS UNCONSCIENABLE THAT FREIGHTLINER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLES THEY SELL. THERE ARE LIKELY MANY OTHER FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS OUT THERE ON THE HIGHWAY THAT ARE OPERATING WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE BRAKES. MIRACULOUSLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED IN OUR ACCIDENT. THE NEXT FREIGHTLINER OWNER MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation