NHTSA Investigation EQ08014

FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS/SAF-HOLLAND EQUIP.

ON APRIL 4, 2008, SAF-HOLLAND REPORTED THAT CERTAIN ADL & ADLSD TRANSVERSE BEAM ASSEMBLIES, PRODUCED BETWEEN JULY 1, 2007 AND OCTOBER 10, 2007, MIGHT HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY WELDED DURING PRODUCTION.SHOULD A TRANSVERSE BEAM ASSEMBLY FAIL DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL LEADING TO A CRASH IS POSSIBLE.SHOULD A TRANSVERSE BEAM ASSEMBLY FALL TO THE GROUND DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, SPARKS MAY OCCUR POSING A FIRE HAZARD. AS ALL OTHER CUSTOMERS OF SAF-HOLLAND HAD SUBMITTED INFORMATION TO NHTSA, ONLY 8 OF FREIGHTLINER'S CUSTOMERS WERE INCLUDED IN THIS EQ.WITH FREIGHTLINER CONDUCTING THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, RMD REQUESTED MAKE/MODEL INFORMATION FROM THEIR 8 CUSTOMERS OR, IF THEY CHOSE, SUBMISSION OF A DEFECT REPORT FOR VEHICLES THAT RECEIVED THESE CHASSIS.RMD MAILED THESE 8 VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IR LETTERS ON 11/6/2008.RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED FROM ALL BUT ALFA LEISURE INC. WHO IS NO LONGER OPERATING.3 MANUFACTURERS DID NOT NEED TO SUBMIT MAKE/MODEL INFORMATION OR DEFECT REPORTS TO NHTSA AS THEY EITHER DID NOT RETAIL ANY RECALLED UNITS OR THEY WERE ONLY RETAILED OUTSIDE THE U.S.4 MANUFACTURERS, CRAFTSMEN LIMO, FARBER SPECIALTY VEHICLES, FLEETWOOD, AND TIFFIN MOTOR HOMES ALL CHOSE TO SUBMIT MAKE/MODEL INFORMATION TO RMD IN LIEU OF DEFECT REPORTS FOR THEIR AFFECTED VEHICLES.ALL MAKE/MODELS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO FREIGHTLINER RECALL# 08V-269.IR RESPONSES CAN BE FOUND BELOW OR IN THE DOCUMENT REPOSITORY.THIS EQ IS CLOSED.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.