NHTSA Investigation PE09050

REAR SPRING TRAILING ARM BOLT LOOSE

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.

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.