NHTSA looks into scope, timeliness of four DTNA recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation is examining four separate recalls that were issued by Daimler Trucks North America within the past six months. NHTSA is concerned about the timeliness of the recalls. Nearly half a million commercial vehicles are involved in the audit.

On April 23, NHTSA opened an audit query to review the scope and timeliness of four recalls issued by DTNA: 17V-761, 17V-810, 18V-157 and 18V-163. Approximately 464,361 commercial vehicles were affected by those recalls, according to NHTSA documents.

A NHTSA document reveals that the Office of Defects Investigation “is concerned that DTNA may not have acted with appropriate speed in making a defect determination and filing with (NHTSA).”

NHTSA’s investigation will look into whether or not DTNA lived up to its responsibilities that are laid out in the Safety Act and determined an appropriate scope for the recalls.

Recall 17V-761 was submitted on Jan. 2 and affected more than 430,000 Freightliner and Western Star trucks model year 2008-2018. Brake lights in affected trucks may not have gone on after a hard brake application. The brake light pressure switch may not have activated with a light touch after a hard pressure is applied.

DTNA issued recall 17V-810 on Dec. 15, 2017, which affected nearly 25,000 Freightliner and Western Star trucks model year 2002-2017. That recall was part of a wider equipment recall regarding faulty Kidde fire extinguishers.

Recalls 18V-157 and 18V-163 involved buses and medium/heavy vehicles manufactured by DTNA. The latter was submitted on March 20 and affect more than 9,000 vehicles. That recall was a population extension of a previous recall regarding certain chassis with a power steering hose issue. Recall 18V-157 affected more than 3,000 Thomas Built Minotour school buses. Buses affected by the recall experienced issues with the wheelchair lift.