General Coach America, Inc.: Suspension › Rear
General Coach America, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Nov 28, 2001 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 128. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT COACHES. THE TRAILING ARM SHAFT ON THE REAR AXLE COULD SHEAR OFF AT A LOCATION BETWEEN THE INSIDE BEARING AND THE AXLE TUBE. THIS DEFECT DOES NOT ARISE UNTIL THE MILEAGE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS IN EXCESS OF 60,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, THE DEFECT APPEARS TO ARISE ONLY IN THE EVENT THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HITS A CURB OR OTHER OBJECT WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. WHEN THE DEFECT OCCURS, THE TRAILING ARM AND THE MECHANISMS ATTACHED TO IT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WHEEL, LODGE UPWARD INTO THE WHEEL WELL OF THE VEHICLE AND STOP THE ROTATION OF THE TIRE.
The risk
IN TURN, THE DISLODGED WHEEL BREAKS THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE AND THE AIR SUPPLY LINE TO THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE OF THE VEHICLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 6, 2001. 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 GENERAL COACH AT 1-800-842-0622.
6 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 General Coach Elf | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 General Coach Lotran | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 General Coach Elf | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 General Coach Lotran | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 General Coach Elf | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 General Coach Lotran | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 01V361000.
Full record for the 1999 General Coach Elf → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →