RoadVitals

2012 Autocar Xpert

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
8
Latest Jan 23, 2023
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Autocar Xpert. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 7 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

8 campaigns cover this model year

View all 8

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
23V023000

PARKING BRAKE

Jan 23, 2023
11,353 units potentially affected
The defect: Autocar, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Xpert, 2010-2020 Xspotter, 2008-2020 Xpeditor, 2008-2010 WXLL and WX vehicles. A worn parking brake control valve can leak air into the vent line, creating excessive back pressure and causing the parking brake to release unexpectedly.
The risk: The unexpected release of the parking brake may allow the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will remove the vent line and fitting from the valve, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 23, 2023. Owners may contact Autocar customer service at 1-888-218-3611. Autocar's number for this recall is ACX-2023 ACTT-2301.
Autocar, LLCManufacturer number ACX-2303 ACTT-2301View on NHTSA.gov
14V397000

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS; SUSPENSION

Jul 2, 2014
287 units potentially affected
The defect: Autocar Industries, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Xpert trucks manufactured November 30, 2011, to November 5, 2014 and having a 164-inch wheelbase and a sweeper body which is mounted with a gap between the cab and the body (where optional equipment could be installed). When being driven at speeds above 25mph, the affected vehicles may have an unexpected bounce.
The risk: The unexpected bounce may cause the operator to lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: The remedy for this recall is still under development. An interim notice was mailed to owners in August 2014. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Autocar customer service at 1-765-489-5499. Autocar's number for this recall is M-1408.
Autocar Industries, LLCManufacturer number M-1408View on NHTSA.gov
14V199000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Apr 23, 2014
207 units potentially affected
The defect: Autocar Industries, LLC (Autocar) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Xpert vehicles manufactured July 11, 2011, through March 5, 2014. The bolts securing the brake valve to the cab may be below the required torque which could cause a failure in the connection of the airlines and the brake valve. Thus, the vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk: Low bolt torque may result in a loss of brake line air pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Autocar will notify owners, and dealers will correct the brake valve mounting, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Autocar's customer service at 1-765-489-5499. Autocar's number for this recall is M-1406.
Autocar Industries, LLCManufacturer number M-1406View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE20003ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Vehicle Roll Away

Opened Apr 1, 2020
Closed Jan 10, 2024

On April 1, 2020, following information received from the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) network of fleet contacts, ODI opened PE20-003 to investigate reports of vehicle roll away in certain model year (MY) 2008-2020 Autocar and Mack refuse trucks equipped with certain Bendix PP-1 push-pull pneumatic park brake control valves with a pipe-away exhaust configuration. Prior to ODI’s investigation,[KK(1]  Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix), the subject component manufacturer, published two related technical service bulletins (TSBs): Bendix Push-Pull Type Control Valves Service Data SD-03-3611 Rev. 007 (2019-03) and Bendix PP-1 & PP-8 Park Control Valve Wear and Replacement Notice Technical Bulletin TCH-003-056 (2019-11-20). ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to motor vehicle manufacturers Autocar LLC (Autocar) and Volvo Trucks North America/Mack Trucks, Inc. (Volvo/Mack) and motor vehicle equipment manufacturer Bendix. IR response data from all three manufacturers was analyzed and cross-referenced to gain further understanding. To date, ODI is aware of 5 vehicle roll-away incidents related to the alleged defect condition in the subject vehicles equipped with the subject components, resulting in 4 crashes and 1 injury. On December 9, 2021, Volvo/Mack notified the agency of a safety recall (21V953) to address a safety defect in certain MY 2008-2019 TerraPro (MRU) and MY 2019-2022 TerraPro (TE) trucks originally equipped with the subject components. [KK(2] On January 1, 2023, Autocar notified the agency of a safety recall (23V023) to address a safety defect in certain MY 2008-2020 ACX (Xpeditor), MY 2012-2020 ACMD (Xpert), MY 2010-2020 ACTT (Xspotter), MY 2008-2010 WX and MY 2008-2010 WXLL trucks. Volvo/Mack and Autocar's recall remedies involve removing the vent line fitting threaded into the exhaust port of the subject PP-1 valve. [VD(3] Both Autocar and Mack have stopped equipping new refuse trucks with park control valves using the exhaust pipe-away configuration. After discussions between ODI and Bendix concerning ways to prevent new PP-1 valves from being sold and installed with a potential for the exhaust to become restricted, Bendix will take the following actions: 1) issue a letter to all original equipment (OE) customers with important safety information warning them about the safety risk of attaching plumbing to the exhaust port when the subject component is used as a park control valve; and 2) affix a warning label on all aftermarket parts warning not to install pipe-away exhaust port plumbing. In view of the recalls being conducted by Volvo/Mack and Autocar, and the actions taken by Bendix, ODI has closed this Preliminary Evaluation. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist in equipment or other model or MY vehicles that have not been recalled. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted.

PARKING BRAKELed to recall 21V953
PE13011ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Delayed Throttle Response

Opened Apr 26, 2013
Closed Dec 9, 2013

This investigation was opened based on a fleet complaint alleging delayed throttle response which could potentially lead to extended stopping distances and/or increase the risk of a crash.Autocar responded to ODI's Information Request (IR) letter and provided test data including its FMVSS 124 validation data.ODI reviewed Autocar's testing procedures and results with NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance and Office of Rule Making.The test procedure was acceptable as were the results.In an effort to further quantify the safety risk, ODI surveyed nine fleets operating the same subject vehicles.Of the eight reporting fleets, only one expressed concerns similar to the fleet submitting the VOQ.Of all the fleets contacted, none had experienced a crash where the throttle delay was a contributing factor.Autocar provided a modified direct wire throttle to the initial fleet as a customer satisfaction campaign.This configuration resulted in an improved throttle response.In light of the low rate of delayed throttle response on the subject vehicles and Autocar's actions to improve the throttle response on the complaint vehicles, further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaint cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID using the following (ODI) number: 10471829

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SP 8-600-002

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Service program instructions to improve HVAC performance. Emailed to dealers and service centers as well as customer list that requests all campaign communications.

SP 8-600-003

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Service program instructions to improve HVAC performance. Emailed to dealers and service centers as well as customer list that requests all campaign communications.

SP-8-600-002

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

AUTOCAR: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED REGARDING UPGRADING HVAC ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. MODEL XPERT. *PE

SP-8-600-003

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AUTOCAR: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INSTRUCTIONS BEING PROVIDED BY ONE OF THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS UPDATING HVAC ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, USING VIN OF THESE VEHICLES. *PE

SP 8-600-001

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Service program instructions to improve HVAC performance. Emailed to dealers and service centers as well as customer list that request all campaign communications.

SP-8-600-001

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AUTOCAR: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INSTRUCTIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE UPGRADING OF HVAC PERFORMANCE ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. MODEL XPERT. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Autocar Xpert by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017020—
2016041—
2015041—
2014081—
2013060—
2012Viewing082—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.