RoadVitals

1998 Detroit Diesel Series 50

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.
0
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.
1
Latest Jul 28, 2004
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.
1
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Detroit Diesel Series 50. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

1 campaign cover this model year

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
04E052000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Jul 28, 2004
3,421 units potentially affected
The defect: DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50 ENGINE TURBOCHARGERS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 1998, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1999. THE TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSOR WHEEL CAN BREAK, RESULTING IN SHAFT IMBALANCE AND LUBRICATING OIL PASSING INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.
The risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURIES.
The remedy: DETROIT DIESEL WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSTALL AN EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND REPROGRAM THE EMC CALIBRATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 313-592-3708.
DETROIT DIESEL CORP.Manufacturer number 04C-2View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE04026ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TURBOCHARGER FAILURE RESULTS IN FIRE

Opened Mar 15, 2004
Closed Jul 29, 2004

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATIONLEARNED OF 19 TRANSIT BUS FIRE ALLEGATIONS WHERE THEENGINE TURBOCHARGER WAS SUSPECTED AS BEING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO OBTAIN SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE FIRE ALLEGATIONS AND GATHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON THE ENGINE/TURBOCHARGER COMBINATIONS USED ON THESE VEHICLES, AND TO UNDERSTAND THE INFLUENCE OF THE TURBOCHARGER AS A CATALYST FOR THE FIRES.DURING THE INVESTIGATION ODI EXMAMINED SEVERAL BUSES INVOLVED IN FIRES AND HAD A TECHNICAL MEETING WITH DETROIT OFFICIALS.AS A RESULT OF ODI'S INVESTIGATION, DETROIT HAS AGREED TO INITIATE TWO SEPARATE SAFETY RECALLS, EACH HAVING A DIFFERENT REMEDY, TO ADDRESS THE THERMAL EVENT CONCERNS.A COPY OF EACH RECALL IS ATTACHED. SEPARATE SAFETY RECALLS ARE BEING CONDUCTED ON THE TWO SERIES ENGINES, AS THE CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS ARE DIFFERENT FOR THE TWO APPLICATIONS.COPIES OF EACH RECALL ACTION ARE ATTACHED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESELLed to recall 04E051000

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.

08SO-1

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

DETROIT DIESEL: THIS IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATED LISTING OF ALL DETROIT DIESEL CORP. MANUFACTURER'S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICES APPLICABLE TO POWER PROTECTION PLAN P-3 EXTENDED SERVICE COVERAGE SOLD 1/1/08-12/31/08 WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *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

Detroit Diesel Series 50 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004010—
2003010—
2002010—
2001000—
2000000—
1999021—
1998Viewing011—
1997000—
1996000—
1995000—

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.