NHTSA complaint: 2006 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE SPRING IN THE PARKING BRAKE CHAMBER FAILED, BROKE IN 3 PLACES. THEN PUNCTURED THE DIAPHRAGM CAUSING A MAJOR AIR LEAK, THE TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR SPRING BRAKE CHAMBERS, 3 OUT OF THE FOUR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN, THE CHAMBER THAT THE SPRING WAS NOT BROKEN WAS INSTALLED A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. WHEN THE AIR PRESSURE DROPPED TO 55 LBS, THAT CHAMBER STARTED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, THE TRUCK WAS OPERATING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AT 65 MPH, THE DRIVER DID NOT FEEL ONE WHEEL DRAGGING AND OPERATED THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE WHEEL GOT SO HOT THE TIRE BLEW, THE DRIVER HEARD THE TIRE BLOW,AND PULLED OVER, WHEN HE GO OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE SECOND TIRE BLEW, AND THE TRUCK STARTED ON FIRE, THE TRUCK BURNED AN WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation