2006 Sutphen Chassis

Defect. SUTPHEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 AERIALS AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 PUMPER FIRE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 60 ENGINES. THE SOFTWARE ON THESE ENGINES MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN A DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER OVER-TEMPERATURE CONDITION IS DETECTED.

Risk. UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTDOWN INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH AND COULD HAMPER RESCUE OPERATIONS AND PUT THE TRANSPORTED PASSENGER AT RISK.

Remedy. SUTPHEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DETROIT DIESEL WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE BY REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE MOTOR CONTROL MODULE. PLEASE SEE DAIMLER TRUCKS/DETROIT DIESEL'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-005. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN NO OCTOBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 1-800-547-0712 OR ON LINE HTTP://WWW.DETROITDIESEL.COM/SUPPORTNETWORK.

Defect. SUTPHEN IS RECALLING 56 MY 2006 FIRE TRUCK CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH TRW STEERING GEARS, MODELS TAS85. THESE STEERING GEARS CONTAIN POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE SECTOR SHAFTS WITH AN INCORRECT GEAR TOOTH WHICH MAY INTERFERE WITH THE RACK-PISTON TEETH, RESULTING IN A STICKING OR BINDING CONDITION.

Risk. THIS CONDITION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE THE STEERING GEAR TO STALL AND RESTRICT THE STEERING TURNING ANGLE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SUTPHEN IS WORKING WITH TRW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR (PLEASE SEE 07E101). THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 3, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRW AT 765-429-1768 OR SUTPHEN AT 1-866-287-5549.

SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY HAS FOUR 2006 SUTPHEN SPH AERIAL DEVICES. ONE IS A TRUCK (NO FIRE PUMP) AND THREE THAT ARE LADDERS WITH FIRE PUMPS AND A WATER TANK (QUINT). THE UNITS WITH PUMPS HAVE HAD REPEATIVE DRIVE LINE FAILURES INCLUDING EJECTING THE DRIVELINE WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE AT 65-70 MILES PER HOUR. ONE UNIT HAS HAD TWO DRIVELINE FAILURES IN THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS. THE LAST FAILURE INCLUDED A TOTAL REBUILD FOR THE FIRE PUMP BASED ON DRIVELINE VIBRATION AND FAILURE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY TOLD SOUTH METRO FIRE THAT, "YES WE KNOW THE DRIVELINES ARE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND DO NOT MEET ALLISON TRANSMISSION INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS." THE MANUFACTURER ALSO TOLD SOUTH METRO FIRE THAT THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS FOR ALL PRE 2007 AERIAL APPARATUS AND HAVE SLIGHTLY IMPROVED BUT STILL DO NOT MEET ALLISONS INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL POST 2007 AERIAL APPARATUS YET WERE NOT WILLING TO ASSIST IN IMPROVING THE DRIVELINE ANGLES AND PERFORMANCE FOR THE FOUR 2006 SPH LADDERS. THIS PRESENTS A VIABLE SAFETY AND LIABILITY CONCERN FOR SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY FIRE CREWS OPERATING THESE UNITS AND THE SERVICE PROVIDED TO SOUTH METRO'S CITIZENS. *TR