NHTSA Investigation PE03027

STRICK SEMI TRAILER HUB FAILURES

ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON A FLEET COMPLAINT WHERE INFORMATION WAS FURNISHED INDICATING THAT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FAILING AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RATE.IN 29 CASES THESE FAILURES ALLEGEDLY RESULTED IN A WHEEL END FIRE OR A WHEEL SEPARATION.DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH LOW MAINTENANCE WHEEL ENDS.DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY ODI INDICATE THAT WIDESPREAD CONFUSION EXISTED IN THIS INDUSTRY CONCERNING MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS.THE ISSUES WERE:FREQUENCY OF MAINTENANCE, AMOUNT OF GREASE TO BE USED, AND PROPER METHOD OF INSPECTION.SEVERAL MEETINGS WERE HELD INVOLVING THE AXLE MANUFACTURER, (ARVINMERITOR), LUBRICATION MANUFACTURER (MOBIL), SEVERAL TRAILER MANUFACTURERS AND FLEETS.CURRENTLY ODI HAS DATA WHICH INDICATES THAT 255 TRAILERS FROM A CERTAIN BUILD PERIOD HAVE WHEEL ENDS FAILING AT A HIGHER RATE THAN PEER TRAILERS WITH THE SAME WHEEL ENDS.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHY THE ONE GROUP IS FAILING AT A HIGHER RATE THAN OTHERS WITH THE SAME WHEEL ENDS.IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER, ODI WILL BE CONTACTING THE AXLE MANUFACTURER, THE BEARING AND GREASE MANUFACTURERS, FLEETS AND WILL FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE WITH STRICK DIRECTLY.

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.