NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Recall Query RQ17-001: Steering Arm Capscrew Failures
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Recall Query RQ17-001 on April 3, 2017 and closed it on December 25, 2017. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2016–2017 Freightliner Cascadia for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- RQ17-001 (also written RQ17001)
- Investigation type
- Recall Query An investigation into whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or whether its remedy works, run much like a Preliminary Evaluation.
- Status
- Closed December 25, 2017
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
- Component
- Steering — Linkages — Knuckle — Spindle — Arm
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2016–2017 Freightliner Cascadia
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Recall Query RQ17-001.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on one (1) Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) and associated Police Accident Report (PAR) that described a crash where the vehicle had a separated steering linkage at one wheel-end as the result of lower steering arm capscrew failures.
It was unknown at the time whether the separation caused the crash or was the result of the crash.
Recall 15V-613 corrected an under-torque issue in upper steering arm capscrews on these vehicles.
ODI opened this Recall Query to assess the scope and remedy of the 15V-613 recall.
ODI collected the front axle from the crash vehicle for inspection and sent an Information Request Letter (IR) to Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA).
The Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) analyzed the crash truck's front axle.
Based on the fracture surfaces of the capscrews and numerous witness marks on the tires, wheels, and vehicle, VRTC determined that the steering linkage separated due to the crash and was not the cause of the crash.
However, VRTC noted that the capscrews on the opposite wheel end were at a much lower torque value than specified by the manufacturer.
In DTNA's IR response, they reported one additional crash where a separated steering linkage was observed.
DTNA determined the separation was the result of the crash and not the cause of the crash.
DTNA had no complaints and all warranty reports were related to the upper steering knuckles and recall 15V-613.
During the investigation ODI received one crash report from a transportation investigator retained by a fleet which involved a similar vehicle and alleged defect.
The steering linkage was observed to have separated at the lower knuckle arm capscrews on the driver's side.
The passenger side capscrews were found to be at a lower torque value than specified.
In order to prevent a future assembly defect as identified in recall 15V-613, Detroit Axle, who manufactured the axles in the subject vehicles, made several production process changes to ensure capscrews were properly torqued.
On October 14, 2015, the assembly tool was modified to monitor torque and turn of each capscrew.
On this date, the tool was also changed to ?Lock on Reject.? If a bolt was not properly torqued the tool would not release until the operator acknowledged and corrected the defect.
ODI conduced a roadside inspection study to help explain the low torque observed in the crash vehicle.
With the help of the Virginia State Police Motor Carrier Enforcement Division ODI inspected thirty-nine (39) trucks and 156 capscrews over a two day period.
No trucks were found to have under-torqued capscrews.
ODI included some older trucks outside the scope of this investigation to offer additional time in service.
One such truck was twelve (12) years old and had nearly 1 million miles.
It too, was within specification.
Based on the information collected, this investigation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted.
The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following complaint identification number: 10926527
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Recall Query RQ17-001. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Freightliner
All Freightliner recallsWhat an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for RQ17-001
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.