NHTSA PUBLISHES LIST OF JULY RECALLS

NHTSA
August 25, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 47-97
Monday, August 25, 1997
Contact: Tim Hurd
Tel. No. (202) 366-9550

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in July and urged consumers to have the problems fixed promptly.

The list identifies the make and model of the vehicle or equipment involved, with a brief description of the safety problem.

NHTSA said it is publicizing the recalls to alert consumers about safety problems and encourages them to take action. Under Federal law, safety problems must be remedied without cost to consumers. Currently, 70 percent of the owners of vehicles with safety problems have the recall work performed.

NHTSA said manufacturers are required to mail a recall notice to all purchasers, owners and dealers when a safety defect or noncompliance with Federal safety standards is found. The agency urges owners to wait until they receive notification from the manufacturer before contacting their dealers to schedule the repair work. Not all vehicles of a particular make and model may be subject to the recall.

Consumers can get up-to-the-minute information on safety recall campaigns, or information on the recall history of a particular make and model of car, truck, motorcycle or child safety seat, by calling the agency's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393, or (202) 366- 0123 in the Washington, D.C. area. The Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS

JULY 1997

VEHICLES:

CARS, VANS, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES

General Motors Corporation

Models:

Saturn EV1 Year: 1997

Number Involved: 211
Dates of Manufacture: September - December 1996
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V109 General Motors Campaign No. 97039
Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles.
Description of Defect: These vehicles were built with a damaged O-ring in the brake pressure modulator valve solenoids. Involved vehicles can develop an external brake fluid leak in one or both of the brake pressure modulator valve solenoids.
Consequence of Defect: Brake fluid leakage could reduce brake effectiveness and increase stopping distances.
Corrective Action: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the solenoids on the brake pressure modulator.
Owner Notification: Owner notification began during July 1997.
Note: 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 Saturn at 1-888-382-7747.

Mazda (North America), Inc.

Models:

Mazda MX3 Years: 1992-1995

Number Involved: 25,000
Dates of Manufacture: August 1991 - August 1994
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V116 Mazda Campaign No. 70709
Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles registered in any of the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
Description of Defect: In areas where large quantities of road salt are used, corrosive pits can develop in the surface of the front suspension coil spring. Repeated use can eventually cause the coil spring to break and a tire could be punctured from contact with the broken coil spring.
Consequence of Defect: This condition increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Corrective Action: Dealers will install a guard assembly which will prevent the broken coil spring from contacting the tire.
Owner Notification: Owner notification will begin Sept. 15, 1997.
Note: 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 Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.

Nissan Motors Corporation

Models:

Nissan Sentra Year: 1997

Number Involved: 450
Dates of Manufacture: May - June 1997
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V110
Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles. Description of Noncompliance: One of three styrofoam pads located in each rear door as part of the design for ensuring compliance with FMVSS No. 214, "Side Door Strength," was omitted. Consequence of Noncompliance: In the event of a vehicle crash, an occupant may not be properly protected, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Corrective Action: Dealers will install the missing pad in each door.
Owner Notification: Owner notification began during August 1997.
Note: 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 Nissan at 1-800-NISSAN 1 (1-800-647-7261).

SCHOOL BUSES, MEDIUM/HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, TRAILERS, AND MOTOR HOMES

Ford Motor Company

Models:

Ford F700 Years: 1995-1996

Number Involved: 3,300
Dates of Manufacture: March 1994 - August 1996
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V111 Ford Campaign No. 97S76
Vehicle Description: Medium duty trucks equipped with a 7.0-liter liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) engine or a 7.0-liter EFI (gasoline) engine with an optional cab floor pan reinforcement.
Description of Defect: The engine wiring harness or battery cable can be pinched between the optional cab reinforcement and the frame, causing an abrasion which could result in an electrical short circuit.
Consequence of Defect: A short circuit can cause overheating and arcing, increasing the risk of personal injury or property damage.
Corrective Action: Dealers will modify the reinforcements and, if necessary, reposition the engine wiring harness (including installation of the revised engine wire harness retention bracket) and battery cable.
Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin Sept. 1, 1997.
Note: 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 Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Freightliner Corporation

Models: Freightliner Century Years: 1995-1997

Number Involved: 11,366
Dates of Manufacture: July 1995 - June 1997
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V112 Freightliner Campaign No. FL-212A
Vehicle Description: Heavy duty trucks.
Description of Defect: Leaks through the firewall or steering shaft boots allow water to run down the steering shaft. The steering shaft slip spline then corrodes, causing it to seize.
Consequence of Defect: Increased steering effort can be required, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Corrective Action: Dealers will replace the steering shaft with a new design that is installed in an inverted orientation so water does not enter the splines.
Owner Notification: Owner notification began July 30, 1997.
Note: 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 Freightliner at 1-503-735- 8682.

Jayco, Inc.

Models:

Jayco Designer Year: 1997
Jayco Eagle Year: 1997

Number Involved: 485
Dates of Manufacture: April - May 1997
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V113
Vehicle Description: Fifth wheel and travel trailers.
Description of Defect: Rivets used to secure the step risers on these vehicles are too short in length and, under stress, can allow the step treads to become detached from the mounting bracket.
Consequence of Defect: If the step riser falls from the mounting bracket while a person is stepping on it, personal injury could occur.
Corrective Action: Dealers will replace the step riser assembly.
Owner Notification: Owner notification began during July 1997.
Note: 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 Jayco at 1-219-825-0670.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc.

Models:

Thomas Minotour Years: 1977-1996

Number Involved: 8,187
Dates of Manufacture: April 1977 - July 1996
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V117
Vehicle Description: School buses equipped with manually operated outward opening entrance doors.
Description of Defect: An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory, can become caught in the area between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket.
Consequence of Defect: If an item worn by a child were to catch on this area, and the driver were to close the door and put the vehicle in motion, serious injury or death can occur.
Corrective Action: These buses were originally included in Recall Campaign 96V-139. However, the repair did not eliminate the potential snagging point between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket of these buses. Therefore, owners are being re-notified to inspect the orientation of the door control. If the door control does not match the orientation described in the renotification letter, the owner will be instructed to remove the existing control and the original recall repair part, reorient the door control, and reinstall the recall part.
Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin Sept. 1, 1997.
Note: 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 Thomas Built at 1-910-889- 4871.

Navistar International Transportation Corporation

Models:

Navistar 5000 Years: 1996-1997
Navistar 9200 Years: 1996-1997
Navistar 9300 Years: 1996-1997
Navistar 9400 Years: 1996-1997

Number Involved: 443
Dates of Manufacture: July 1996 - January 1997
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V118 Navistar Campaign No. 97503
Vehicle Description: Heavy duty trucks equipped with six-spoke wheel assemblies.
Description of Defect: These vehicles were manufactured with the wrong combination of wheel assembly parts. Should the six-spoke wheel assembly have mismatched parts, high stresses on the wheel studs can occur, causing the wheel studs to fracture.
Consequence of Defect: Broken studs can result in a wheel separation, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Corrective Action: Dealers will inspect these wheels and make the necessary combination corrections. Also, operator instructions and visual aids will be updated.
Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin Aug. 26, 1997.
Note: 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 Navistar at 1-800-448-7825. Navistar International Transportation Corporation

Models:

Navistar 9200 Year: 1997
Navistar 9300 Year: 1997
Navistar 9400 Year: 1997

Number Involved: 89
Dates of Manufacture: March 1997
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V119 Navistar Campaign No. 97504
Vehicle Description: Heavy duty trucks equipped with antilock brake system (ABS).
Description of Defect: The wiring from the electronic control unit was connected to the wrong wheel sensor.
Consequence of Defect: Crossed ABS wiring would result in a significant degradation in braking stability. A signal would be sent to the wrong brake chamber when a brake imbalance is detected increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Corrective Action: Dealers will inspect the ABS wiring and make proper connections if necessary.
Owner Notification: Owner notification is expected to begin Aug. 26, 1997.
Note: 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 Navistar at 1-800-448-7825.

EQUIPMENT

Furon, Inc.

Brands:

ECO-cruise control

Number Involved: 393
Dates of Manufacture: June 1993 - September 1996
NHTSA Recall No.: 97E022
Equipment Description: Cruise control actuators.
Description of Defect: The ECO-cruise actuator can corrode, seize and bind the throttle.
Consequence of Defect: If the actuator binds, engine speed will not decrease to the level anticipated by the operator, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Corrective Action: Dealers will replace the actuators with new or remanufactured units.
Owner Notification: Owner notification began July 15, 1997.
Note: Owners who contact their servicing dealers and are unable to obtain the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Furon at 1-800-262-3357, ext. 5204.