Defect. CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR P 18X7 BRAKES WITH 36" BRAKE CHAMBERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE TRUCKS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A COMBINED AIR RESERVOIR VOLUME LESS THAN 12 TIMES THE COMBINED VOLUME OF ALL SERVICE BRAKE CHAMBERS.
Risk. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL TANK OR CHANGE ONE OF THE EXISTING AIR TANKS TO A LARGER SIZE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2003. 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 KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.
Defect. AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED BY ADDING A LONGER AIR LINE BETWEEN THE ABS SOLENOID AND THE TRANSFER TEE TO SIMPLIFY MANUFACTURING. THIS MODIFICATION CAUSED THE TRUCKS TO BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 121, BRAKE TIMING TEST.
Risk. THE MISTIMED BRAKE AND ABS SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE TRUCK TOFAIL THE STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIREMENT OF THE FMVSS, WHICH MAY LEAD TO ANACCIDENT.
Remedy. REMOVE THE EXTRA LENGTH OF AIR LINE AND INSTALL THE TRANSFER TEE AT THE ABS SOLENOID.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Mar 31, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.