Preliminary Evaluation · REAR SPRING TRAILING ARM BOLT LOOSE · Opened 2009-10-07 · Closed 2010-01-07
Investigation
Action number
PE09050
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Open date
2009-10-07
Close date
2010-01-07
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Affected makes
THOMAS BUILT BUSES
Affected components
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET
Affected model years
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Affected (make, year) variants
4
Summary
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI WAS INFORMED BY TWO SCHOOL BUS FLEETS THAT THEY HAD FOUND LOOSE BOLTS ON THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARMS OF THE AIR RIDE SUSPENSION ON SEVERAL OF THEIR BUSES. ODI VISITED THE LOCAL DEALER AND CONFIRMED THE LOOSE BOLTS.IF THESE BOLTS FAIL AND SEPARATE, THE REAR SUSPENSION CAN SHIFT, ALLOWING THE REAR END HOUSING TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD.THIS COULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON VEHICLE CONTROL.IN LATE NOVEMBER2009, DAIMLERFILED A SAFETY RECALL (09V-458) OUTLINING THEIRREMEDY PROGRAM.DAIMLER WILL INSPECT AND TORQUE ALL THE REAR SUSPENSION FASTENERS AS NEEDED.A COPY OF THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IS ATTACHED. THE ACTION TAKEN BY DAIMLER RESOLVES THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.